Uğur Kaya Karayurt: Support for Investments to Reduce Foreign Dependency Should Continue

Kolen Energy General Manager Uğur Kaya Karayurt evaluated the price increases in electricity and the developments in the electricity sector. Karayurt: "The new figures in electricity were announced by considering the costs. On the other hand, while the increase in electrical energy was coming, a regulation was introduced in which the individual and low-income consumers would be affected as little as possible by the increases. These serious adjustments in electricity tariffs that we have experienced in the last few months reveal how impressive the dependence on foreign energy is in a negative sense. For this reason, the importance given to production from domestic and renewable sources in energy in Turkey should continue. Support for investments that will reduce foreign dependency should continue."   Costs were taken into account in the price increase "New figures have been announced in electricity tariffs. As we mentioned before, tariffs have not increased in line with costs for more than a year. Electricity costs were increasing, but since there was a more tolerable situation, tariffs were intended not to affect the consumer. The aggressive movement in the exchange rate in the recent period has made it impossible to maintain this perspective. The exchange rate has increased by almost 100%, but this has hardly been reflected in the tariffs until the last few months. Therefore, these adjustments in tariffs were not an unexpected development. When asked about whether the hike would come, the costs would be looked at and decided accordingly. As a matter of fact, the costs were above the tariffs. The new figures were announced with costs in mind, exactly as described." A regulation that will affect low-income earners less "On the other hand, while the increase in electrical energy was coming, we made an assessment that the individual and low-income consumers would be affected as little as possible by the hikes. In part, it did. This view has been taken into consideration in the regulations made in the tariffs. Individual subscriptions, i.e. residential subscriptions, have been much less affected by the increase. It differs from corporate subscription in terms of individual subscription structure. In the residential consumer group, income is not obtained from that consumption point as in corporate subscription. That point is not a source of income. In addition, this consumer group is very low in terms of number but incomparably lower in terms of consumption amounts. With less budgets, more citizens are taken care of."   Efforts to reduce external dependence on energy should be supported "In fact, these serious adjustments in electricity tariffs that we have experienced in the last few months tell us how impressive the dependence on foreign energy is in a negative sense. Let's not forget that. All this is despite the very serious investments made in domestic and renewable resources in recent years. As a matter of fact, energy in terms of investment is done more than enough. No one can deny that. However, we are not yet at the optimum point in terms of production. At its simplest, we still generate 30-35% of our electricity from natural gas. All this tells us that energy liberalization and investments should continue, even if it is the heaviest prescription. As a matter of fact, the Minister said that they do not have a project that is stuck on the issue of "postponing large projects that have not been started" in energy, and that progress will continue. This is very important. Minimizing the dependence on external sources in energy should be our top priority. For this reason, the importance given to production from domestic and renewable sources in energy in Turkey should continue. Support for investments that will reduce foreign dependency should continue."