Articles

Turkey’s energy sector under stress

On January 19 this year, Turkey was to auction three of the country’s largest electricity distribution companies. Bids were expected to exceed $3 billion, with the sale a symbol of the country’s commitment to liberalization and to reducing the role of the state. 14 days before the auction, the Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, expressed concern that transferring these companies to private hands could lead to higher electricity bills for the consumer. 2007 is, of course, election year, and a few days later the sale was postponed.