Speaking to reporters following a dinner in Ankara, he noted that the government values domestic and renewable sources and due to a high amount of rainfall this year which lead to an increase in the use of hydroelectric power plants, the share of natural gas use in electricity generation declined to 45 percent from about 53 percent.
Yıldız explained that even though high petroleum prices last year increased the country’s already high current account deficit (CAD), it has however reflected as profits in the account of the state-owned Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO). TPAO earned approximately $1 billion last year. He also pointed out that the state-owned Electricity Generation Holding Company (EÜAŞ) has used water sources very efficiently and has reduced the use of natural gas in electricity production, adding that the “focus of our main energy policy is to facilitate a greater use of natural gas for heating and less for energy production.
” Also speaking to reporters about the release of the architectural designs of Turkey’s first nuclear power plant in the coastal town of Akkuyu, the minister said that “the design is a product of hard work and shows that the project is becoming more concrete. We hope to complete all the licensing procedures by next year.” In addition, Yıldız stated that a residential area for 12,000 people would be established there as well. |
Source : todayszaman.com
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