Natural Gas Monopoly To be Abolished

A new draft law that the Energy and Natural Resources Ministry submitted yesterday to the Prime Ministry may speed up that process. The new draft asks that BOTAS hand over its import contracts to the private sector in order to encourage competition and reduce prices for customers.

Experts emphasize that energy companies would invest in the natural gas import sector if the law draft was put into effect. "The competition that would arise after the abolishment of the state monopoly will provide the citizens with cheaper natural gas," say experts.

Energy Minister Hilmi Guler agreed that the hand over of import contracts would be beneficial both for the citizens and the country. Guler pointed out though, that few countries have yet to take advantage during the contract period; they expected fierce competition and more participants.

No Electricity Discount for Industry

When asked if there would be a similar decrease in the price of electricity, Guler replied: "There have been no developments to decrease the costs of energy for industry. In a way, the stable price is a reduction when looked at in an inflationary environment."

Many industry owners had called upon the government to lower the cost of electricity so that businesses would be better able to compete with foreign countries. There have been some meetings in recent years, but nothing concrete has emerged from them yet.