Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

Council President İbrahim Akbal emphasized that the balances in the world have changed as a result of the developments in Ukraine and that this situation brings along a number of difficulties economically, and stated that the European Union has taken many measures to ensure energy security. Akbal stated that these developments mean that fossil fuel consumption will continue for a long time when we look at the realizations on a global scale today, when the concept of 'green environment' is discussed in all its dimensions and studies are continuing for its implementation. Akbal stressed that taking Türkiye's steps towards becoming a natural gas trade center is promising.

Yaşar Arslan, Vice President of the Türkiye Natural Gas Council, shared the current data on the natural gas market. He emphasized that in 2022, it was seen that natural gas consumption would decrease by 10% compared to the previous year, while residential natural gas consumption increased, there was a decrease in natural gas consumption of the industrial sector due to the increase in the use of alternative energy sources. He stated that by the end of 2022, 742 settlements will be able to use natural gas and 82% of the population, in other words 70 million people, will be able to access natural gas.

In the presentation titled 'European Energy Crisis' by Dr. Sohbet Karbuz, Director of the Association of Energy Companies of Mediterranean Countries, it was stated that a change was tried to be initiated under the name of green transformation being implemented in the European Union, but unrealistic policies were encountered in practice. It is stated that the energy crisis has deeper reasons than the developments in Ukraine.

In the presentation made by Mr. Mustafa Güzel, Director of EPİAŞ Natural Gas Market, information was given about the work on a new market making model, and information was provided about the benefits of the system, how market making works and its obligations. Market making was conveyed through sample applications and market making applied in Italy and Spain was also conveyed as examples of countries.

Aygaz Marketing and Innovation Deputy General Manager Rıdvan Uçar emphasized in his presentation titled 'Towards the Natural Gas Trade Center' that Türkiye, which is on its way to becoming a trade center, should pay attention to the conditions. Uçar stressed the importance of Türkiye not remaining as a transit country and becoming a natural gas trade center in the full sense of the word.