The pecularities of natural gas market in Turkey and an investigation in Eskisehir

ABSTRACTTHE PECULARITIES OF NATURAL GAS MARKET IN TURKEY AND ANINVESTIGATION IN ESKISEHIRCebrail ÖZDEM RDepartment of EconomicsAnadolu University, Graduate School of Social Sciences, September 2006Advisor: Ph.D. Bülent GÜNSOYThroughout history, energy has been one of the basic elements of the economic andsocial development. When the development of the energy resources is examined, itcan be observed that the determinative positions of the Industrial Revolution and thecoal, later oil and natural gas have effects on the world economies. The highest risein demand is expected to be for natural gas. Turkey cannot be considered an energyresources-rich country. The draft sets targets for the government in lowering ofnatural gas prices through liberalization of the natural gas market which should leadto more productivity in the sector. Natural gas sector is stated as the driving force indevelopment of the country and production of more economic wealth. Natural gas,which is an important alternative resource in meeting the increasing energyrequirement of Turkey, became an energy resource, the importance which has beenrising for Turkey?s being an energy terminal between the east and west via theinternational projects developed in recent years. Participation in, and development ofglobal and regional energy businesses to strengthen energy supply security arestated as a political priority for Turkey, and for other countries as well. Comparingwith the other alternative energy sources, natural gas is more advantageous fromproduction and cost point of view in Eskisehir and in Turkey, and it is clean and has alarge field of using; for that reason the demand for it is continuously increasing. Therate in air pollution decreased at a great level by using natural gas in Eskisehir.