Importance of Domestic Coal (Lignite) Reserves on Turkey’s Energy Independency


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İnal S., Yaşar Ö., Aydıner K.

MT Bilimsel, no.19, pp.11-32, 2021 (Peer-Reviewed Journal)

  • Publication Type: Article / Review
  • Publication Date: 2021
  • Journal Name: MT Bilimsel
  • Page Numbers: pp.11-32
  • Karadeniz Technical University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

This article surveys a policy of Turkey’s energy planning over coal. Energy supply pattern of Turkey is highly dependent on the foreign resources. Electric production of the country relies largely on hydropower, natural gas and coal. Though the country has considerable lignite reserves suitable for energy production in thermal power plants, many of the plants constructed in the last two decades utilize imported coal. Future energy plans of the country consider resource diversification, decreasing foreign dependence and diversification of the dependent countries. However, current energy perspective of the country shows significant deviations of the strategies developed. Domestic lignite reserves of the country offer satisfying alternatives over the foreign coal. Additional efforts to enhance the effective utilization of domestic lignite reserves are required. This paper presents a detailed assessment of the future energy perspective of Turkey. For this purpose, the development plans, the past trends and the future projections of country about the coal and global energy supply-demand pattern were evaluated.