Turkey aims for two-thirds of energy supply to be local within 10 years

Energy Minister Berat Albayrak told an event organised by the Association of Energy Experts that Turkey has been increasing the diversity of its energy infrastructure and investments, Customs Today said.

"2016 has been a record year for us in electricity generation. We reached this high by generating 49.3% of product from domestic resources," Albayrak said.

"The next thing you know, in 10 years, we will turn into a country that starts exporting energy; this from a country that spends an average of $50 billion a year on energy and mineral imports," he said, according to the news report.

Turkey should be able to provide energy to the public at higher quality and lower costs, Albayrak said, by playing a greater role in production. If the country is to achieve the goal of supplying two-thirds of its energy, everyone from those involved in infrastructure to regulations, from incentives to legislation will work together, "shoulder to shoulder", he said.

"We have started the tender process for indigenous coal, soon to be followed by solar and wind power, each of which has 1,000 megawatts of capacity," he said.

Renewable energy already accounts for up to 35% of Turkish production, compared to an average of 28% to 29% in Europe, Albayrak told the event.

The country will also take steps to develop its indigenous coal and nuclear energy production.

"From now on, we will look for more resources, make regulations and support a triple win-win picture by paving the way for investors. We will benefit from nuclear as well as indigenous coal energy," Albayrak said. "We need to develop our resources with richer calorific values."