Minister Bayraktar attributes electricity price hike to the pandemic

Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar made assessments regarding developments in the energy sector during a program he attended.

Addressing the price change in the electricity tariff, Minister Bayraktar claimed that the rise in commodity and energy prices following the pandemic played a role in the price increases.

Pointing out that there is pressure on prices stemming from commodities, Bayraktar concluded his remarks as follows:

"It is asked from time to time why gasoline prices do not fall in Turkey. Because there is another variable in our products. That is, the exchange rate is also important. But we have implemented a support program for our citizens, starting especially from the pandemic process. In other words, we have been in a pricing structure that offers whatever means we have so that our citizens are least affected by this. There is a 38 percent change in electricity prices, but the state provides a support of 293 billion liras for natural gas and approximately 291 billion liras for electricity. We are talking about a total of nearly 20 billion dollars. If we had not made the regulation in July, the total amount of support would have been 584 billion liras. Even today, despite the price increases, the state covers 600 liras of a 1,000-lira bill as support. Our state covers 700 liras of the natural gas bill. We are striving to do whatever we can for our citizens within the scope of our means."