Imported coal remains the primary fuel for Türkiye’s power grid because foreign-fueled plants run much more consistently and at higher capacities than those using domestic coal. While the country has built more plants designed for local fuel, these facilities operate at less than half their potential output, according to the authors of the newly released report.
The report notes that “imported coal plants operate at capacity utilisation rates above 80%, whereas domestic coal plants operate at around 45%.” Furthermore, it highlights that “approximately two-thirds of electricity generated from coal relies on imported coal.”
In simple terms, even though Türkiye has more physical equipment ready to burn domestic coal, those plants are often sitting idle or running at low speed. Meanwhile, the power stations that burn coal bought from other countries are working around the clock at nearly full blast. Because these imported-coal plants are so much more active, they end up producing most of the country’s coal-fired electricity, leaving domestic sources behind.
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.
