Türkiye invests over 17 billion liras in gas distribution in 2023

The Association of Natural Gas Distributors of Türkiye (GAZBİR) annual report states that while natural gas distribution companies in Türkiye invested over 17 billion Turkish liras ($526 million) last year, a total of 75 billion ($2.32 billion) is planned between 2024 and 2026.

As per the report, there are plans to distribute natural gas to over 130 new settlements, with investments anticipated through 2026.

The report disclosed that by the end of last year, the length of Türkiye’s natural gas distribution network totaled 202,100 kilometers, including steel, polyethylene and service lines.

It also revealed that the distribution network grew by an average of 7% annually between 2018 and 2022, and the network length grew by 11% last year compared to the previous year.

Between this year and 2026, construction is planned for an annual average of more than 15,000 kilometers of network. By the end of 2026, the length of Türkiye’s natural gas distribution network is expected to exceed 250,000 kilometers through investments from natural gas distribution companies.

Natural gas was distributed to 81 provinces and 845 settlements by the end of 2023. Plans at the beginning of last year covered the targeted gas distribution to 90 new settlements for 2023, and with the expansion plans from gas distribution companies, 102 new settlements were supplied.

As a result, 2023 became the year in which natural gas supply was distributed to the newest settlements in a single year.

By the end of last year, natural gas was supplied to 757 of the 973 districts in the country, including 51 central districts. Over the same period, natural gas was delivered to 88 towns.

With further investments planned between 2024 and 2026, natural gas supply is targeted for 128 new settlements. However, based on the annual supply plans this year, the maximum number of new settlements planned is 52.

– 84% of Türkiye’s population has access to natural gas

According to the report, distribution companies expanded their reach to 71.5 million people last year, a 1.9% rise, by investing in both existing and new territories. This has resulted in 84% of the country’s population gaining access to natural gas by the end of last year.

The population of active natural gas users in Türkiye increased by 3.3% on an annual basis to 62.7 million last year.

Over the last five years, the population with access to natural gas has increased by approximately 10.5 million. While 63% of Türkiye’s population were active natural gas users in 2019, this figure rose to 73% by the end of last year. By the end of 2026, active users are expected to increase by 18% to 71.5 million.

With 20.8 million natural gas subscribers at the end of last year, Türkiye ranked third in Europe with the highest number of natural gas subscribers after Italy and Germany.

However, by 2025, Türkiye is expected to become the second-highest ranking country with the most gas subscribers in Europe, where the number of natural gas subscribers is reaching saturation point.

In Istanbul, the city where natural gas is most widely used in Türkiye, the number of subscribers increased by 121,000 last year to 5.7 million, while the number of subscribers in the capital, Ankara, rose by 2% to 2 million.

– Residential consumption ranks highest

Last year, Türkiye’s natural gas consumption decreased by 6% to 50 billion cubic meters compared to the previous year.

Because 2022 was warmer than 2023, natural gas consumption in 2023 remained more subdued than in 2022. Additionally, because alternative energy sources were used to generate electricity instead of natural gas, industrial gas consumption fell. Due to the Kahramanmaras earthquakes, which affected 11 provinces, consumption also decreased.

Residential natural gas consumption declined by 6% last year compared to the previous year to reach 17 billion cubic meters. Consumption in power plants using natural gas also fell by about 4% compared to 2022, and consumption in the industrial sector contracted by 8%.

The residential sector held the largest share of natural gas consumption at 34%, followed by power plants at 28%, the industrial sector at 24%, and the service sector at 11%.

By Murat Temizer

Anadolu Agency

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