Turkey's electricity production decreased by 0.7% in March 2020, compared to the same month last year, according to the latest data revealed by the country's energy watchdog.

Total electricity production was down to approximately 23,828 million kilowatt-hours (kWh), from 24,004 million kWh in March 2019, Turkey's Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EMRA) announced in its electricity market report for March.

Turkey produced its electricity from several resources; 40.4% from hydropower, 20.3% from import coal, 12.5% from lignite and 10.4% from natural gas. Wind, geothermal, biomass, asphaltite, hard coal, fuel oil and solar power generated the remaining share.

Consumption in the industrial sector saw the biggest share at 45%, followed by the residential sector at 26.1%. Commercial consumption ranked third with 24.3%, while agricultural irrigation and street lighting accounted for the remainder.

Turkey's installed electricity capacity was up 1.8% in March 2020 from the same period of 2019. Natural gas power plants comprised 30.2%, while 24.3% came from hydropower plants and 11.9% from lignite power plants.

Imported coal, hydro, wind, geothermal, hard coal, fuel oil, biomass and solar power also contributed to Turkey's installed capacity.

By Ebru Sengul Cevrioglu

Anadolu Agency

energy@aa.com.tr