Turkish state pipeline operator BOTAŞ will raise the price of natural gas to commercial consumers by about 30 percent in early April, the Dünya newspaper reported.

The increase in prices will be caused by the growth of world gas prices.

The surge in energy prices and the loss to the lira have led to a sharp acceleration in inflation in Turkey. The country imports almost all the energy it consumes. Consumer price inflation reached 54.4% year-on-year in February, the highest level in 20 years, while producer price inflation approached 100%.

BOTAŞ believes that the increase in natural gas prices for households is still lower than the increase in prices in Europe. The company ended 2021 with a 50 billion lire ($3.4 billion) loss from duties.