The rise of dollar affects Turkey's energy costs just as the oil prices affect, Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Taner Yildiz said on Saturday in Kayseri, a province in the central Anatolia of Turkey.
"Even though the rise of dollar negatively affects our costs, there is no possibility of increasing the prices. We arrange our energy strategy for the benefit of the consumers," Yildiz said, while he is answering journalists' questions before the opening ceremony of Kayseri Organized Industrial Zone Solar Power Plant.
Upon the question about the rising gasoline and diesel prices, Yildiz answered that the prices rise according to the comparison between dollar and oil prices.
"Oil prices have been increasing since Jan. 13 which shows a 30 percent increase. Dollar- lira parity also has risen from 2,28 to 2,70 levels. When these two figures are compared, it equals to a 8,5- 10,3 percent rise on gasoline and diesel prices," he said.
Yildiz also underlined that Turkey buys energy goods with dollar but sells with Turkish liras.
Turkey heavily relies on foreign energy resources, such as natural gas and oil, which generate almost half of all electricity production in Turkey and costs up to US$60 billion a year. Energy expenditure is the biggest contributor to Turkey’s current deficit.
By Nuran Erkul
Anadolu Agency
nuran.erkul@aa.com.tr