Albayrak

The referendum on constitutional amendments ushering in an executive presidential system will "ensure the existence of the republic," Energy and Natural Resources Minister Berat Albayrak has claimed, while voicing concern about further terror attacks ahead of the referendum.

Turkey does not anticipate electricity and gas price hikes in 2017 despite recent cost increases, Energy Minister Berat Albayrak said on Jan. 6, adding that Iranian gas flows were continuing but below full capacity after a technical problem occurred in December.

Sources from the Energy Ministry claim that a major cyber-attack is the source of the widespread electricity cuts across Istanbul in recent days, according to reports in the Turkish media. 

"The attacks are generally aiming to seize Internet sites and secure infiltration," a senior anonymous source said on Dec. 31, as quoted by state-run Anadolu Agency.

Turkey will start a "new era" in its energy policy and will make payments to countries where large amounts of energy are concentrated in local currencies, Energy Minister Berat Albayrak has said.

Turkey expects the first reactor of the nuclear power plant project Akkuyu (estimated at USD 20 B) to become operational by the end of 2023, stated Turkish Energy Minister Berat Albayrak, cited by Reuters.

Turkish President Erdogan has already announced that work on the joint project with Russia may be accelerated after a rapprochement between Ankara and Moscow took place in August.

Turkey does not foresee a delay in the scheduled timetable for the TurkStream natural gas pipeline project between Russia and Turkey under the Black Sea, Turkish Energy Minister Berat Albayrak said on Oct. 26.

"There is a plan to start construction in 2017 and to complete by 2019. We don't foresee any delay for its completion," Albayrak told Anadolu Agency.

Energy Minister Berat Albayrak has announced that there will be a 10 percent discount on natural gas prices as of Oct. 1.

The government is preparing to launch its first tenders for local coal and solar energy before the end of the year, Energy Minister Berat Albayrak said during a ceremony to open a giant call center in western Turkey. 

A Serbian national currently serving a jail term for fatally beating a 23-year-old Turkish woman who attempted to intervene in street harassment in Germany will be deported to Serbia once his prison term ends in November 2017, German daily Bild has reported. 

One of the topics discussed at the cabinet meeting presided over by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was those who have been expelled from public work within the context of the fight against the Fethullahist Terror Organization (FETÖ). Interestingly, this topic was brought up by the president, who, as a matter of fact, was the very person whose hotel was raided by putschists trying to kill him. <