New Electricity Tariff Begins

Answering the questions of journalists at the meeting organized by the Federation of Anatolian Publishers, Minister Bayraktar said that they are trying to support citizens in a fairer way.

Cost Based Model

Bayraktar emphasized that with the new tariff in electricity starting on February 1, groups exceeding 417 KWh monthly and 5 thousand KWh annual consumption in 2024 will pay whatever the real cost is and said, “We are implementing an arrangement that will affect 3 percent of subscribers. 40 million subscribers will not see any change in their bills.”

Province-Based Grading

Explaining that they are working on a similar tiering application in natural gas and that the province-based application they are considering may be realized at the end of this year, Bayraktar stated that oil production in Şırnak Gabar has exceeded 75 thousand barrels and said, “We meet approximately 15-16 percent of our needs in both natural gas and oil with our own production.” 

Final Stage in Turkmen Gas

Bayraktar said that Slovakia was affected by the situation after Ukraine terminated the transit gas flow from Russia to Europe as of January 1, and that he would meet with Denisa Sakova, Deputy Prime Minister of Slovakia, to find a solution, adding, “We are working with Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria in different commercial formats. We can also contribute to other countries in this sense. We are also working intensively to bring Turkmen gas to Türkiye. Hopefully, our 30-year dream will become a reality. So I can say that we have reached the final stages.”

Electricity and Natural Gas to Syria

Explaining that Türkiye is currently transferring electricity to the operation zones in Syria and that they will increase this transfer by 50 percent in the first stage, Bayraktar said that they aim to increase the export to 500 megawatts by raising the transmission line to Aleppo in 5-6 months. Bayraktar emphasized that Aleppo's need is 2 thousand megawatts, and if 500 megawatts of this need is met through transmission lines, the existing natural gas power plant there can be commissioned for the rest after maintenance, and that they are working on a 50-60 kilometer natural gas pipeline to supply natural gas to the power plant.

Drilling in Kandıra-1 

Announcing that they have started drilling at the Kandıra-1 well in the Sakarya Gas Field in the Black Sea, Bayraktar said, “It is a field we are hopeful about. We are also working in Somalia. We have completed 47 percent of the seismic studies. The seismic work there will probably be completed around April.” Bayraktar stated that the daily production in Sakarya Gas Field has reached 7 million cubic meters and the natural gas of approximately 3 million households is met from here, and said, “We will exceed 9 million cubic meters before April. In July 2026, we will reach 20 million cubic meters.” 

Cyprus Message

Upon a question about the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus starting drilling activities around the island, Bayraktar said, “In other words, if the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus claims such a right on the whole island, then the TRNC also has a license that can be granted for the whole island. If there is an oil and natural gas income that can be obtained from here, this belongs to the whole island. In other words, it belongs to the whole island, not just the TRNC. That is our main difference of discourse and approach with them.” 

Critical Year for Nuclear

 Underlining that nuclear energy is returning with great momentum all over the world, Bayraktar said, “We are aiming to start generating electricity from the first reactor in Akkuyu this year, even if it is test production. Therefore, electricity generation from the first reactor is very critical for us. It would be a very historic moment for Türkiye. Korea and Russia are interested in Sinop. We are talking to China about the project in Thrace. 2025 is a critical year for this business, so the next few months are important for us.” 

Production with 92 percent purity

Explaining that they have produced up to 92 percent purity in the pilot plant established in the field where rare earth elements are found in Eskişehir Beylikova, Bayraktar said: “We have produced a concentrate that costs around 10 thousand dollars per ton. But commercializing it and raising the purity level of those figures, that is, being able to go to 99.999, is a much greater added value.”

Will Prevent 8 Billion Dollar Imports

Bayraktar explained that the YEKA RES-2024 competitions with a capacity of 1,200 megawatts received 18 times the demand and that a very competitive tender was held, and said, “I produce the electricity that I would produce using 800 million cubic meters of natural gas with this 1,200 megawatts of wind. If you say 400 million dollars a year and 20 years for the purchase guarantee period, it contributes to preventing natural gas imports of 8 billion dollars. The price dropped to 3.5 cents. In other words, the electricity price is now 7 cents in the market. On top of that, they will pay a capacity fee of 120 million dollars. There will be a solar tender on Tuesday next week, which I think will be more competitive.”