Turkey's natural gas imports increased by 30.1% in July this year compared to the same month of 2020, according to data of Turkey's energy watchdog on Friday.
Natural gas imports increased to around 4.05 billion cubic meters (bcm) from approximately 3.1 bcm for the same month of 2020, Turkey's Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EMRA) said in its monthly natural gas market report.
In July 2021, the country imported 3.48 bcm of natural gas via pipelines, while 568 million cubic meters (mcm) was purchased as LNG, EMRA's data showed. This marked an increase in pipeline gas imports of 33.7% and 11.8 in LNG imports.
Russia was Turkey's top gas import destination, supplying 2.30 bcm of natural gas while Iran and Algeria followed with 633 mcm and 568 mcm, respectively.
Turkey's gas imports from Russia and Algeria grew by 173.5% and 46.6% in July, respectively, while imports from Iran declined by 4.7% compared to the same period of 2020.
Turkey's total gas consumption also increased by 35% to approximately 3.83 bcm compared to the same month of 2020.
Household consumption decreased by 4.6% to 239 mcm, while the use of gas in power plants increased by 72.5% to 1.93 bcm during the same period.
Consumption growth in natural gas power plants, which generated more electricity due to drought and lower hydro capacity over the last few months, continues to boost imports.
The share of natural gas plants in electricity generation was 37.2% in July this year relative to 24.5% in the same month of 2020.
The natural gas volume in storage in July 2021 increased by 31.1% to around 2.79 bcm compared to about 2.1 bcm in July 2020.
By Nuran Erkul Kaya
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr