Oil and gas in Turkey

rdf:langString Oil and gas in Turkey

rdf:langString Oil and gas each supply over a quarter of Turkey's primary energy. The country consumes 50 to 60 billion cubic metres of natural gas each year. Almost all oil and gas is imported and is a big part of the current account deficit of the economy, but a large gas field in the Black Sea is expected to start production in 2023. Almost half of the country's gas is imported from Russia. Gas storage capacity is being increased. Over 80% of the population, and all provinces in Turkey, have access to natural gas. Gas supplies half of the country's heating requirements. Households buy the most gas, followed by industry and power stations. All industrial and commercial customers, and household using a lot of gas, can switch suppliers. As the state owned oil and gas wholesaler BOTAŞ has 80% of the gas market, the government can and does subsidize residential and industrial gas customers. Over half of the imported oil and oil products are used for road transport. Turkey is the world's largest user of liquefied petroleum gas for road transport. Turkey is almost completely dependent on imports of oil, as only 7% of oil is produced locally. Unlike several European countries, which stopped buying or were cut off from Russian oil or gas, after the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, relations with Russia are such that Turkey continues to buy both. Some analysts say that Turkey does not have enough gas storage or alternative supplies to resist pressure. In 2022 a gas shutoff by Iran caused problems for industry. It is said to sometimes be difficult for media in Turkey to report fully on energy geopolitics.