Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

In his opening speech, Selçuk Öztürk touched on the impact of the pandemic and supply chain problems and developments in Ukraine on the sector. Emphasizing the importance of the work carried out by the Sector Council, Öztürk expressed his thanks to the Council President and Members for their selfless and efficient work.

Commenting on the developments and effects in Ukraine, Council President İbrahim Akbal noted the rapid recovery in the industry on a global scale after the pandemic in 2021; stating the accompanying decarbonization policies have exceeded expectations for natural gas consumption and that the sector continues to yearn for a free market.

In the evaluation of the year 2021 and the first quarter of 2022 by Yaşar Arslan, Vice President of the Turkey Natural Gas Council, it was stated that natural gas distribution networks provide services to 80% of Turkey's population, in addition to 81 in total, natural gas services can be provided in 647 districts. Despite the pandemic conditions, natural gas consumption increased by 15% in January-February 2022, Arslan said, adding that although there were some uncertainties due to the cost increase in investment plans in the natural gas sector, the processes continued uninterrupted.

BOTAŞ Natural Gas Business and Market Operations Regional Manager Murat Önde evaluated the winter period by presenting about natural gas transmission system, regulatory developments and grid development processes after evaluations on consumptions in the first two months of 2022.

Within the agenda of the meeting, MEDREG Director Hasan Özkoç gave a presentation on the developments in the natural gas markets in the European Union. Özkoç briefed on the reaction of European Union markets and possible measures to be taken regarding unforeseen issues such as excessive fluctuations in energy prices.

TOBB Energy Council Advisor Kemal Uslu gave information about the data on the electricity market for 2021 and the capacity utilization rates of electricity generation sources and the amounts of thermal and renewable energy production.

Turkish Natural Gas Council Advisor Erdinç Özen shared his assessments of the developments in the natural gas sector in Turkey and around the world with Council Members. Following the developments in the natural gas markets, he gave information on the work of EU countries on resource diversity.