Turkey's natural gas imports increased by 104.2% in June 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 4.06 billion cubic meters (bcm) from approximately 1.99 bcm for the same month of 2020, Turkey's Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EMRA) said in its monthly natural gas market report.
In June 2021, the country imported 3.78 bcm of natural gas via pipelines, while 278 million cubic meters (mcm) was purchased as LNG, EMRA's data showed. This marked an increase in pipeline gas imports of 252.6% while LNG imports fell by 69.6%.
Russia was Turkey's top gas import destination, supplying 2.39 bcm of natural gas while Iran and Azerbaijan followed with 867 mcm and 522 mcm, respectively.
Turkey's gas imports from Russia and Iran grew by 1,431% and 100% in June, respectively, while imports from Azerbaijan declined by 43% compared to the same period of 2020.
Turkey's total gas consumption also increased by 70.2% to approximately 3.83 bcm, from around 2.25 bcm in June 2020.
Household consumption decreased by 7.3% to 352 mcm, while the use of gas in power plants increased by 188.5% to 1.71 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 was 38.5% in June this year relative to 16.2% in the same month of 2020.
The huge increase in gas consumption and imports in June this year compared to May last year reflects the slowdown after the first coronavirus case was reported in Turkey in March last year when the country announced a country-wide lockdown that slowed down economic activity.
The natural gas volume in storage in June 2021 increased by 38.4% to around 2.60 bcm compared to about 1.88 bcm in June 2020.
By Nuran Erkul Kaya
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr