Investment in Turkey - Turkey Energy

Nabucco project has come after seven years of negotiations

Today, the leaders of five countries (Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and Austria) that the pipeline crosses will sign the deal, officially starting the project which is widely regarded as a move to free the EU from its dependency on Russian gas.

Hefty bank loans boost energy investments in Turkey

Many banks in Turkey have accelerated efforts to support energy investments domestically, with a considerable amount of loans already extended to energy projects.

With the steady growth of the economy, incentives offered by the government and an increasing demand from entrepreneurs, banks in Turkey have extended billions of dollars to energy companies within the last five years, the Anatolia news agency reported.

Emre Alcan, General Coordinator of ALCAN, a consulting firm rendering engineering and consultancy services to domestic and foreign companies willing to invest in energy sector, said the Turkish energy sector continues to be the focus of domestic and foreign investors despite the global turmoil.

Experts from the energy market stated that loans granted to the energy sector are expected to amount to $130 billion in 2020. Government incentives and the support of banks have enabled companies to continuously introduce new projects, particularly in the development of renewable energy, which focuses on wind, solar and geothermal energy. It is expected that the energy sector will be less affected by the general negative trends felt in the ongoing global financial crisis.

Norwegian energy company plans to invest up to $1.2 bln in Turkey

Norwegian energy company, Statkraft, which acquired a 95 percent stake in a subsidiary of Turkey's Global Investment Holdings (GYH) on Wednesday, is expected to invest up to $1.2 billion in seven hydropower projects.

Turkey's Yesil Enerji holds controlling interests in seven hydropower projects with a combined installed capacity of 633 MW and an annual generation capacity of 2.1 TWh, the statement said, adding that development and construction of the seven hydropower plants is expected to require a total investment of up to 700 million euros ($1.2 billion).

Talks with Gazprom continue in natural gas privatization

Elektromed, having given the second most advantageous bid in the privatization of the Baskent Natural Gas Distribution, is reportedly holding talks with the Russian natural gas company Gazprom.

TPAO inks Turkish exploration deals with Exxon, EOG

According to a report by Reuters, the Turkish Petroleum Corporation, or TPAO, signed oil exploration deals with ExxonMobil and EOG in an effort to increase the exploitation of hydrocarbon reserves in Turkey. The deals are for joint exploration in Turkey's southeastern region, as well as in the Black Sea, which is estimated by TPAO to contain 10 billion barrels of crude and 1.5 trillion cubic meters of natural gas reserves.

Germany's EnBW to invest $1.25 bln in renewable energy in Turkey

The German power group EnBW wants to invest 1 billion euros ($1.25 billion) in renewable energies with a partner in Turkey, a press report said on Tuesday.

EnBW is the fourth biggest German power company, with 2008 sales worth more than 16 billion euros ($20.2 billion).

Turkish, German companies to invest in wind energy in Turkey

Ataseven Energy Production, a Turkish energy company operating in the wind power sector, and Epuron, a German company operating in the fields of wind, solar power and bio-energy, have announced their plans to make a joint investment in wind power in Turkey.

Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, Mustafa Serdar, Chairman of Ataseven Energy, said they applied to the Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EMRA) for licenses to establish ten wind power plants with a total capacity of 2,986 megawatts. Serdar said they expect to profit from Turkey's huge potential in wind power. He explained that they plan to establish the new plants in Bursa, Izmir, Balikesir and Manisa.

Russia could spend USD 7 billion on Turkish nuclear plants

Sergei Shmatko, the Russian Minister of Energy, said last week that a state-backed consortium could spend up to USD 7 billion on a project to build four nuclear reactors in Turkey, whose total cost is USD 18-20 billion. Speaking on the sidelines of an energy conference, Minister Sergei Shmatko said a consortium led by state nuclear engineering firm Atomstroyexport and electricity trader Inter RAO have submitted a letter of intent to participate in the Turkish government tender.

Turkey to invest more in geothermal energy

Hilmi Guler, the Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Sources, stated that Turkey will invest more in geothermal energy as part of a planned USD 120 billion investment program by 2020.

Turkish electricity to be connected to EU system

Ilhami Ozsahin, General Manager of Turkish Electricity Transmission Corporation, said they are continuing their efforts to create a synchronized interconnection between the Turkish electricity system and the European electricity system and added, “There is demand for renewable energy in the European countries.

Russia's Lukoil plans to invest $400 million in Turkey within 10 years

Russian OAO Lukoil plans to make a $400 million investment in Turkey in the coming decade, the company's chairman Vakit Alekperov told a press conference in Istanbul.

Lukoil was planning to invest $8 billion globally in 2009, he added. With around 1.3 percent of global oil reserves and 2.3 percent of global oil production, Russian- based Lukoil is one of the world's leading vertically integrated oil and gas companies, exploring, producing and marketing oil and gas, petroleum products and petrochemicals.

India's GMR in talks with Turkish companies for power plant

India's GMR Infrastructure Ltd is in talks with the Turkish companies to build a natural gas-fired power station with a capacity of 1,000 megawatts, the Head of its Turkish unit said late on Wednesday. Cenk Alpsoy, Chief Executive of GMR's Istanbul-based unit, said in an interview with Reuters that GMR is meeting companies about possible investment for the project, but has not disclosed names or a figure for any possible investment.

Wind energy production tripled

Wind energy production increased by 195 percent in Turkey last year. Turkey, having produced 147 megawatts (MW) of wind energy by the end of 2007, reached 433 MWs of capacity with 286 MWs realized last year. According to the European Wind Energy Union (EWEA) data, Turkey having ranked 16th in Europe in 2007 year-end results, advanced to 14th position at the end of last year getting ahead of Belgium and Norway.

Verbund: We are in Turkey for long term

Enerjisa, established under the partnership of Sabanci Holding and Austria’s leading energy company Verbund, acquired Baskent EDAS last week. Wolfgang Anzengruber, stating their partnership in Enerjisa, which has won the first privatization tender for energy distribution in Turkey, is a long term one, added, “Turkey has a very significant investment potential for us”.

EDF Energies Nouvelles invests in Turkey

EDF Energies Nouvelles said it had bought a 50 percent stake in Turkish wind energy company Polat Enerji. No financial details of the deal were disclosed.

Turkey, Iran may sign South Pars gas deal in November

Turkey and Iran have resolved problems on planned investment in the South Pars gas field and they may sign a production accord in November, Turkish Energy Ministry sources told Reuters last Thursday. They said Turkey was opposed to an Iranian plan to build a new pipeline to transport natural gas to Europe and that the planned Nabucco project pipeline should be used instead.

Chinese investors come to Mersin for energy investments

CEO of Mersin Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Asut said, "After the simulation process, Chinese firms intend to implement industrial design and application operations for the device in laboratories that are appropriate for nanotechnology production."

Czech CEZ buys 37.4 pct of Turkey's Akenerji

The Czech power utility CEZ purchased a 37.4 percent stake in Turkey's Akenerji for $302.6 million. CEZ, the largest power producer in central Europe, will pay $302.6 million (224 million euros) for the shares to Turkeys Akkok Group, which will retain 37.4 percent of the distributor.

CEZ-Akenerji consortium successfully bids for Sedas

Martin Roman, chairman and CEO of CEZ, said: "Obviously, we are really pleased with the success in Turkey. It represents important progress in our foreign expansion and it is positive news for our investors, who will surely appreciate our connection to a strong local partner. We find the Turkish energy sector very attractive for us."

Turkey to sell most power grids by end-2009

The Turkish Privatization Administration (OIB) expects to sell the majority of Turkey's remaining electricity distribution grids by the end of 2009, OIB president Metin Kilci told Reuters. Turkey plans to sell 20 power grids and has so far sold four. The most recent sales were for a grid servicing central Anatolia, which brought the highest bid of $440 million, and another grid in eastern Anatolia. Those tenders came shortly after the sell-off of a grid serving Ankara and another in northwest Turkey.

Energy company AREVA T&D to invest $105 mln in Turkey

AREVA, one of the world's leading energy transmission and distribution companies, has decided to spend $105 million to expand their operations in Turkey by constructing a new factory that will create employment for an additional 600 people.

Turkey has world’s 7th largest potential in geothermal energy

Turkey’s Energy Minister said Turkey would look to develop further geothermal energy resources. Turkish Energy Minister Hilmi Guler said the government was looking to save 315 million euro between now and 2013 with an annual production of 4.4 billion kw/hr through geothermal power plants.

During a visit to Iceland, Guler said that in terms of geothermal energy potential, Turkey ranked 7th in the world and 1st in Europe with a potential of 31,500 MWs. However, currently it was was only producing a total of 30 MWs at three geothermal power plants. Guler said they wanted to increase this to a total of 550 MWs by 2013.

Israel's largest petroleum refiner may invest in Turkey

Oil Refineries Ltd., Israel's biggest petroleum refiner, plans to make acquisitions in Turkey and elsewhere after its sale by the government last year opens up opportunities, Chief Executive Officer Yashar Ben Mordechai said. Oil Refineries is seeking a small refinery or a stake in a larger one, and is looking for purchases in the retail gasoline business in Cyprus, Italy or Turkey, Ben Mordechai said in an interview in Tel Aviv.

Two more state-owned electricity grids for sale

The state-owned Meram and Aras electricity distribution corporations are to be privatized, with its shares will be sold as a block, Turkey's Privatization Administration (OIB) announced yesterday in the Official Gazette.

The eventual buyer must provide $10 million as collateral to purchase the Meram Electricity Distribution Corp. shares. The corporation serves Kirsehir, Nevsehir, Nigde, Aksaray, Konya and Karaman. For the shares of the Aras Electricity Distribution Corp., which serves Erzurum, Agri, Ardahan, Bayburt, Erzincan, Igdir and Kars, the figure is $5 million.

Energy Minister says Turkey controls world boron market

Turkey's energy minister said on Wednesday that Turkey currently controlled the world's boron market. Attending a meeting on "The Future of Boron and Turkey" at Ankara's Cankaya University, Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Hilmi Guler said remarkable studies were being carried out and more than 2,000 products were produced in Turkey using the "boron" chemical.

"We can say that Turkey is now controlling the world's boron market," Guler said. He also said Turkish experts carried out studies on "sodium-boron hydride" which was one of the most important hydrogen carriers of the future. Guler said Turkey produced cement using boron chemicals as well. He said 4,000 tons of cement was produced using such material currently and the product would be commercialized soon.

Boron, a semi-metallic element, exhibits some properties of metal as well as of non-metal. Turkey has almost 72 percent of the world's boron potential and boron reserves. The importance of boron --widely used in industries ranging from detergent industry to glass industry-- will increase as hydrogen fuelled motor vehicles are introduced.

Turkey sets deadline for bids to build first nuclear power station

Turkey has set a deadline of Sept. 24 for bids in a tender to build the country's first nuclear power station, a statement in the Official Gazette said on Monday. The power station will be built at Akkuyu near Mersin on the country's Mediterranean coast, the Official Gazette said. The plant will have a capacity of 4,000 megawatts, plus or minus 25 percent.

The project is one of the several ways in which the government plans to boost energy production to keep pace with rapidly growing demand against a background of strong economic growth. Turkey has conducted legal work on building three nuclear power plants with a total capacity of 5,000 MW.

Court rejects another appeal against privatisation of Petkim

The Council of State rejected an appeal of the Nov. 22, 2007 Supreme Privatization Board (OYK) decision to sell petrochemicals producer Petkim to the SOCAR-Turcas-Injaz consortium. The Union of Petroleum, Chemicals and Rubber Workers (Petrol-Is) had appealed the sale of 51 state shares in Petkim to the SOCAR-Turcas-Injaz consortium.

The Council of State rejection statement said there were no restrictions on companies in the winning consortium from participating in the privatization tenders.