Fatih Dönmez

The Turkish government is working on arrangements to reduce electricity bills some 25 percent for businesses, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Fatih Dönmez has said.

"A multiple-grade tariff will be brought for small businesses. A discount of 25 percent is being considered for the low-consumption grade," he told a private broadcaster on Feb. 17.

Drillship Fatih, owned by the Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO), started drilling its third exploration well in the Sakarya Gas Field in the Black Sea region, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Fatih Donmez said yesterday.

Authorities are putting the final touches on work to ease the burden of electricity bills on households and businesses.

Government officials are devising a plan with different options, expected to be submitted to the cabinet soon.

Energy and Natural Resources Minister Fatih Dönmez said on Feb. 11 that the Turkish government is determined to draw up broad measures soon that will provide relief to families and businesses amid soaring utility bills.

Energy and Natural Resources Minister Fatih Dönmez will meet with representatives of electricity distribution companies in the afternoon today.

The main topic of the meeting will be investments that should be made to protect households against disruptions caused by natural disasters.

People walking in Istiklal Street in Istanbul, Turkey, 2 December 2021. Photo: EPA-EFE/SEDAT SUNA

Most residences and businesses without power in Turkey's southwestern province of Isparta have had their power supplies restored after days of outages caused by a massive snowstorm.

Industry and Technology Minister Mustafa Varank and Energy and Natural Resources Minister Fatih Dönmez have met with industrialists at a consultation meeting on energy cuts.

Iran has failed to meet some technical conditions regarding the setup in the natural gas contract with Turkey, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Fatih Dönmez has said.

Last week, Turkey's Petroleum Pipeline Corporation (Botaş) lowered the natural gas flow to large industrial sites and power stations by 40 percent because of a disruption in pipeline gas imports from Iran.

Turkey's natural gas storage capacity will be increased from 4.7 billion cubic meters to 11 billion cubic meters by 2023, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Fatih Dönmez told parliament members on Dec. 7.