The energy policy of Turkey, after 1980

With January 24th Decisions signed in 1980; neoliberalism and globalization gained momentum and as a result of the Oil Crisis in 1973, the oil began to quit as a reliable energy source and energy sources started to diversify and Turkey's energy politics began to differentiate after 1980's. The presence of private sector in energy markets in the country had strengthened. Especially with the introduction of natural gas into the energy mix, the country's foreign dependence on energy increased steadily and there was no adequate benefit got from resources like coal and hydraulic energy which are potentially available in large quantities in the country. The impact of the private sector on energy markets also increased gradually, but this did not lead to productivity gains since privatizations are not generally carried out based on merit. In this study, while the energy policies implemented by Turkey after 1980 are examined; before that the factors that are affecting the energy policies and the general state of the non-renewable and renewable energy resources in the world in terms of past daily consumption, cost and environmental effects of them are presented to the reader and the findings are aimed at helping to evaluate the energy policies implemented by Turkey. After that, Turkey's energy resources and potentials are given, and with the light of these data and actual developments in the world, in the context of non-renewable and renewable energy resources in the country, the energy policies that Turkey can implement in the future are discussed.