Persistent drought in Türkiye has created a significant financial drain, costing the country an average of $1.8 billion every year in additional fossil fuel imports. According to the authors of the newly released report, this economic burden arises because the nation must purchase more natural gas from abroad to compensate for the major drop in electricity produced by hydroelectric dams during dry periods.
The report states that “drought leads to an average annual increase of $1.8 billion in fossil gas imports, rising further during energy crises and drier years.” It further explains that “short-term fluctuations in hydroelectric generation during dry years… can exceed 20 TWh, accounting for more than 5% of the country’s electricity consumption.”
In plain terms, when there is not enough rainfall to fill the nation’s reservoirs, Türkiye’s large dams produce much less electricity than they are capable of. To keep the lights on and meet the country’s needs, power companies are forced to use power plants that run on natural gas instead. Since Türkiye imports nearly all of its natural gas, this shift turns a weather-related problem into a multi-billion dollar bill for the economy every year.
The report “Türkiye Electricity Review 2026” was published by the international energy think tank Ember on April 8, 2026. It was authored by Ufuk Alparslan, the organization’s Regional Lead for Türkiye and the Caucasus, alongside a team of researchers.
