BORCKA - "If necessary measures are not taken starting from today, energy shortage could be a trouble for all of us. Therefore, we are taking precautions rapidly," said Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday.
Participating in the inauguration ceremony of the Borcka Dam and Hydroelectric Power Plant, PM Erdogan underscored that the rapid population growth, as well as the diversity of tools and machines, caused an increase in the energy demand.
"Today, while all countries are using their existing energy sources in the best way, they are looking for new sources as well," Erdogan stressed.
Noting that Turkey`s annual electrical energy consumption per capita was below the world average, Erdogan said, "however, it looks like the electricity consumption and demand in Turkey will increase dreadfully in the upcoming period, according to our current growth perspective".
Underscoring that Turkey possessed rich resources concerning energy production, Erdogan indicated that "water" was the most important resource within this context.
-TURKEY`S POTENTIAL-
Erdogan emphasized that Turkey had 138 hydroelectric power plants operating currently and these plants had a production capacity of 46 billion kilowatt-hours per year.
Stressing that this capacity amounted to 36 percent of Turkey`s potential, Erdogan said, "Turkey still cannot use 64 percent of its potential. In order to benefit from such potential, 540 new hydroelectric plants should be established in addition to the existing ones. These plants are not luxurious for us".
Erdogan said that, breaking a new ground in hydroelectric energy production, they prepared a "Water Usage Right Regulation", moreover, they opened a way for the private sector in energy management.
Stressing that nearly a thousand applications were received concerning the rapid inauguration of new hydroelectric power plants, Erdogan indicated that such a development showed how rich Turkey`s potential regarding this area was.
Erdogan who noted that the dams to be constructed at Coruh river basin would provide remarkable resources for Turkey, stated that the electrical energy to be produced in the region, would cover the increasing energy deficit of the country.
-"WE ARE A STRATEGICALLY IMPORTANT COUNTRY"-
Underscoring that Turkey was a strategically important country and it should take rapid steps parallel to this importance, Erdogan said, Baku-Tblisi-Ceyhan (BTC), Samsun-Ceyhan and Shah Deniz projects were examples of such steps.
Erdogan also emphasized that Turkey was an important crossing point for energy and added, "if we assess our position as a crossing point well, Turkey`s position in the world would be comprehended in a much more different way."
Noting that a total number of 111 dams and puddles were inaugurated over the last 4 years, Erdogan said new hydroelectric energy production facilities would be opened this year as well.
Meanwhile, Erdogan stressed that "Batumi Airport" was ready to be inaugurated and they kept on discussing this issue with the Georgian President.