Türkiye's combined natural gas transmission and distribution network has reached 257,522 kilometres. According to figures released by the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources on 9 October 2026, infrastructure access is available to 73 million people, equal to 85% of the population. The ministry aims to increase the number of settlements served by natural gas from 995 to 1,000 by the end of the year.
Transmission network exceeds 21,000 kilometres
As of August 2026, Türkiye had 21,030 kilometres of natural gas transmission lines and 236,492 kilometres of distribution lines. Together, the two systems totalled 257,522 kilometres. Transmission pipelines form the main system carrying gas across the country, while distribution networks extend into settlements and toward subscribers.
The ministry said the total network length was equivalent to roughly six and a half times the circumference of the Earth. The comparison illustrates the physical scale of the infrastructure. Distribution lines account for most of the total, at 236,492 kilometres.
Access expands to 73 million people
By October 2026, natural gas access was available to 73 million people, representing 85% of Türkiye's population. Access means that infrastructure is available in an area; it does not mean every individual or household is an active subscriber.
Subscriber figures demonstrate the distinction. As of July, there were 22,329,878 residential natural gas subscribers and 23,183,623 subscribers in total. The overall figure includes residential, commercial and other types of customers.
Target set at 1,000 settlements
Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said natural gas was used in only five provinces in 2002, compared with all 81 provinces and 995 settlements today. The government's target is to take the number of connected settlements to 1,000 by the end of 2026. The statement did not identify the five additional settlements or provide precise commissioning dates.
The figure of 1,000 should therefore be read as a year-end target rather than a completed milestone. Details of where new connections will be made are expected to emerge through project and commissioning announcements.
Entry and underground storage capacity
Natural gas infrastructure involves more than pipeline length. The ministry reported daily entry capacity of 495 million cubic metres and underground storage capacity of 6.3 billion cubic metres. Entry capacity indicates the amount that can technically enter the system each day through pipelines and liquefied natural gas terminals.
Storage capacity supports flexibility and security of supply, particularly during periods of higher winter demand. Capacity figures do not mean the entire volume is used on a particular day; they describe the technical capability of the system.
How the figures should be read
The indicators cover different reporting periods: network lengths refer to August, subscriber counts to July and access figures to October. They therefore combine the latest available period-specific values rather than presenting a single-day snapshot. Preserving those dates is important when comparing future updates.
Network expansion also does not by itself demonstrate an equal rise in consumption. Weather, industrial demand, prices and energy efficiency affect actual use separately. The announcement describes the scale of infrastructure but does not provide a new comparison for consumption trends.
What happens next?
The main year-end measure will be whether the number of connected settlements rises from 995 to 1,000. Continued network investment, the timing of new connections and storage levels will also be closely watched as winter demand increases.
The latest figures provide a snapshot of the geographical reach and technical scale of Türkiye's natural gas system. They do not cover consumption volumes, import costs, retail pricing or current storage fill levels, which require separate data for a full assessment of the market and supply outlook.
