More than TRY 5.6 billion (EUR 1.66 billion) was invested in the electricity transmission and distribution sector in Turkey last year, according to data released by the Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EMRA). Anadolu Agency’s Energy News Terminal reported 21 of the private electricity distribution companies invested more than EUR 1 billion.
About 50% of investments in distribution were spent towards increasing grid capacity and in improvements and repairs to the grid and for operating systems, over EUR 360 million and EUR 289 million, respectively.
The remainder of the investment was for grid renewal, lighting fixtures, metering and connection costs. One of the electricity distribution companies, Başkent EDAŞ, made the biggest investment in the sector, EUR 120.3 million. The company performs distribution, retail sales and related services activities in seven cities. Bedaş, which distributes electricity to the European side of Istanbul, is the biggest distribution company of Turkey. It had the second-highest investment, EUR 105.4 million. Next was Toroslar EDAŞ, with EUR 102.4 million. The company performs electricity supply and distribution operations in six cities and distributes 7.3% of total electricity consumed in Turkey.
Electricity Transmission Co. (Teiaş), solely in charge of the power transmission sector in the country, invested EUR 620 million. Transformers made up 50.9% of the investment. Teiaş spent 45.6% of the budget for new transmission lines. The remainder was invested in machines, equipment and other items, the article said.