Natural gas consumption started in early 1970’s with the usage of limited indigenous natural gas production in a few industrial plants in Turkey. Gas consumption has expanded sharply with the signing of the first Sales and Purchase Agreement with the former USSR in 1986. Gas sales started at 500 millions cm in 1987 and reached its highest consumption level of 59.8 billion cubic meters in 2021. Domestic production has started to increase with the commissioning of the Karadeniz Sakarya field, with a 2023 value of 807 million. Economic growth, industrialization, population growth and rapid urbanization were the basic factors, which cause the surge in our energy consumption, notably oil and natural gas. In addition, environmental issues and policy of diversifying of energy sources have brought the natural gas usage into the energy scene in Turkey.
However, with the introduction of renewable energy resources, the increase in natural gas consumption has stopped in electricity generation. Altough the share of natural gas in primary energy consumption increased to 32.5% in 2014, this ratio started to decline in the following years. In 2022, the share of natural gas in primary energy declined to 27.44%.
Natural gas consumption varies between 50-60 billion m3 depending on the amount of water coming into dams as a result of precipitation, electricity generation from renewable energy, air temperatures, industrial development and energy savings.
With the Natural Gas Market Law No. 4646 adopted on April 18, 2001, the monopoly authority of Botaş in import and sales was ended, and it was aimed to create a transparent natural gas market and to ensure an independent regulation and supervision in this market.
On 1 September 2018, the Organized Wholesale Market (EPİAŞ) became operational.
EPİAŞ conducts spot and future natural gas market transactions.
