Turkish gas suppliers ‘struggling to meet soaring winter demand’

ANKARA - Reuters

Turkey’s daily natural gas consumption has risen to more than 200 million cubic meters due to increased household demand stemming from cold weather and is thus outstripping supply, energy industry sources said Dec. 22.

To help ease demand, Turkey’s state pipeline operator Botaş has cut supply to gas-fired power plants by 90 percent and advised several industrial companies to reduce non-critical production, energy sources said.

Botaş already cut the gas flow to the private sector and the state-run gas-fired power plants by 50 percent on Dec. 14 amid a noticeable increase in demand due to cold weather. 

The gas demand has especially soared in household consumption, added the source. 

There are currently no issues in gas flows from foreign supplies such as those from Russia, Iran and Azerbaijan, energy sources said, adding that deliveries of liquefied natural gas (LNG) due in a few days could help meet demand.