Türkiye's natural gas imports decreased by 26.6% in March compared to the same month in 2022, according to data from Türkiye's energy watchdog on Wednesday.
Natural gas imports in March fell to around 4.55 billion cubic meters (bcm) from approximately 6.25 bcm in the same month of 2022, Türkiye's Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EMRA) said in its monthly natural gas market report.
According to EMRA data, the country imported approximately 3.07 bcm of natural gas via pipelines in March, while 1.87 million cubic meters (mcm) were purchased as LNG. This represented a 27.6% decrease in pipeline imports and a 24.5% increase in LNG imports.
Russia was the majority supplier, providing 1.42 bcm of natural gas to Türkiye, while Azerbaijan and Iran followed with 922 mcm and 916 mcm, respectively.
Gas imports in March from France, Nigeria and Trinidad and Tobago fell by 100%, and imports from Russia and the US dropped by 48.2% and 61.6%, respectively, relative to March last year.
The country's total gas consumption in March also contracted by 14.5% to approximately 5.65 bcm compared to the same month in 2022.
Household consumption dropped by 14.7% to 2.74 bcm, and gas usage in power plants decreased by 2.84% over the same period.
The natural gas storage volume in March last year increased by 352.8% to around 4.20 bcm, compared to 929 mcm in March 2022.
By Gulsen Cagatay
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr