KEMA Assists Turkish Distribution Network Planning

ARNHEM, The Netherlands -

- Project Part of Turkey’s European Union Accession Process

KEMA (www.kema.com) has been commissioned by the Dutch Agency for International Business and Co-operation (EVD) to assist the Turkish Distribution company (Türkiye Elektrik Dagitim Anonim Sirketi - TEDAS) enhance its network planning methodologies to reflect the requirements placed upon it by the liberalized market environment in which it now operates. The project, which is part of the accession process for Turkey to the European Union, is due to complete in December 2010.

KEMA will review and enhance the current network planning methodologies by developing a revised model and standards. KEMA will provide training in the new model and standards, including Training the Trainers to ensure the sustainability of the project results. KEMA also will review the actions of TEDAS as a Distribution System Operator and assess its compliance with EU Directives (such as 2003/54/EC and 2005/89/EC) with a view to recommending improvements where necessary.

The TEDAS network is divided into 21 regional distribution companies which are currently being privatized through a Transfer of Operating Rights (ToR) process. To-date the ToR process has been completed for four of the regions: Kayseri was subject of an earlier transfer process in 1990); Menderes in August 2008; Baskent in January 2009; and Sakarya in February 2009. In recent years demand for electricity in Turkey has increased at a rate of between 6 percent and 9 percent annually with the most recent published forecasts identifying continued growth. New capacity will be required to meet this demand and there are already a growing number of private generators and significant potential for sustainable hydro, geothermal, wind and solar power.

This expansion and the on-going liberalization process has created a need for a more sophisticated distribution network. KEMA will assist in the delivery of a network planning process which will enable TEDAS to meet its future challenges. To maximize the benefits to the Turkish electricity sector, the Government (through the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources - MENR), the Regulator (the Energy Market Regulatory Authority - EMRA), the Transmission company (Türkiye Elektrik Iletim Anonim Sirketi - TEIAS) and the regional distribution companies are participating in the project team. KEMA secured the involvement of the Dutch distribution company Enexis in the project team. Enexis experience of operating in a liberalized market environment will provide valuable insight to TEDAS.

Comment Pier Nabuurs, CEO of KEMA:

“In this project, KEMA will employ its international experience and extensive technical knowledge to reflect best practices through to TEDAS’s planning processes, enabling TEDAS to address current and future network design issues - such as the proliferation of distribution connected generation expected in the coming years.”

This is the third EVD-sponsored project KEMA has undertaken in the Turkish electricity sector. In 2008 KEMA successfully completed a similar project with the TEIAS and in 2006 KEMA assisted EMRA in the development of its market monitoring capabilities. EVD has recently completed an energy sector study for Turkey and the World Bank is currently providing funds for a large scale rehabilitation program for the TEDAS distribution network.

About EVD

The Agency for International Business and Cooperation (EVD) is part of the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs. Its mission is to promote and encourage international business and international cooperation.

About KEMA

Founded in 1927 and headquartered in the Netherlands, KEMA (www.kema.com) is an independent knowledge provider operating globally in the energy value chain and specializing in high-quality services in the field of business & technical consultancy, operational support, measurements & inspections and testing & certification. As an impartial organization, KEMA provides consultancy and support to government bodies and producers, suppliers and end-users of energy. KEMA employs more than 2,000 professionals in 20 countries worldwide.

Source: KEMA

For more information on this press release, please contact Rolf van Stenus, KEMA (tel. +31-26-3-56-2607 or via rolf.vanstenus at kema.com). For North American media, please contact Kristen Brewitt, KEMA (tel. +1-781-418-57-14 or via kristen.brewitt at kema.com).