Key Role of Underground Natural Gas Storage
Turkey continues to strengthen its energy supply security through two critical underground natural gas storage facilities located in Tuz Gölü and Silivri. These storage sites are essential for maintaining the supply-demand balance, especially during periods of increased consumption.
Current Storage Levels and Expansion Efforts
Ongoing Capacity Increases
Entering winter with storage sites filled, Turkey leveraged its improved LNG infrastructure and diverse supply sources, minimizing the need to draw extensively from reserves. Presently, storage occupancy stands at 71 percent. In response to global supply challenges, efforts to refill the facilities to full capacity are underway.
Silivri Storage Facility
The Silivri Natural Gas Storage Facility currently operates with a capacity of 4.6 billion cubic meters, making it the largest of its kind in Europe located offshore. Plans are in place to increase this capacity to 6 billion cubic meters by 2028.
Tuz Gölü Storage Facility
The Tuz Gölü Natural Gas Storage Facility has reached a storage capacity of 1.7 billion cubic meters. The Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources aims to expand this to 8.5 billion cubic meters by 2032.
Strategic Measures for Energy Security
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar noted that, typically, storage levels decrease after winter and are replenished in summer to prepare for the next cold season. He emphasized, “By significantly increasing our LNG import capacity, we have ensured that our natural gas storage facilities remain filled. Despite the end of winter, our storage levels remain at 71 percent. We are closely monitoring global geopolitical tensions and supply crises, and are taking necessary measures to refill our reserves to full capacity to minimize the impact of potential global shocks.”
Minister Bayraktar also stated, “Through our efforts so far, we have increased the combined storage capacity in Silivri and Tuz Gölü to 6.3 billion cubic meters. Our investments will continue, and by 2028, we aim to be able to store at least 20 percent of Turkey’s total natural gas consumption.”
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