Turkey inked $200 million energy efficiency deal with World Bank: Minister

ISTANBUL

Turkey has shaken hands with the World Bank for a $200 million resource for energy efficient investments in the public sector, Energy Minister Fatih Dönmez has said.

The resource will mainly be used by central government bodies and local administrations for the isolation of public buildings, he told the general assembly of the Energy Efficiency Association in Istanbul.

“As Turkey edges through its goals in energy efficiency, its imported resources will drop gradually,” he said.

“Thus, the money we have to pay other countries will remain in the pockets of our citizens,” he said.

Dönmez also said the ministry wants to be a pioneer in the country in the use of electric-engine and hybrid cars.

“The revolution in the use of electric cars will continue and grow in the future. The support for low-emission, eco-friendly, small-size engine electric and hybrid cars with batteries will also continue to improve energy efficiency,” he said, adding that the ministry would pick such cars in new purchases and rentals.

“Thus, we project a 30 percent saving,” he added.

Dönmez also called for campaigns to improve awareness on energy saving.

Turkey is not a rich country in terms of energy resources, the minister said, noting that any new foreign resource is a burden on the economy.

“We are looking at implementing a transformation that aims at long-term [solutions],” he said.

Turkey will have saved energy equal to 24 million tons of oil until 2023 thanks to new plans, he projected.

The new investment savings will result in a $30 billion savings as of 2033, he said.