It's not finance, automotives, construction, food or durable goods but rather the energy industry that is most strongly whetting the appetite of companies in Turkey.
 
 The gradually increasing liberalization of the energy market, the formation of established standards, the need for 4,000 megawatts of additional electricity every year, the expected privatization of public electricity facilities and the incentives for energy investments are all attractive factors that are making major companies pour capital into this business. All in all, analysts are expecting that the energy market will be full steam ahead thanks to the tough competition that is arising in this atmosphere.
The interest in this business is very scattered, however, since there are numerous options for interested companies. From the construction of nuclear power plants and new hydroelectricity power plants, to building refineries and investing in thermal plants, investors are analyzing their opportunities. The need for $130 billion of investment in energy by 2020 to avoid falling short of rising demand is the main underlying factor that creates a feasible ground for these companies dreaming of turning major profits in the energy sector.

It is already a known fact that domestic investors are conducting partnership talks with foreign companies to share their financial burdens for the construction and operation of nuclear plants. Throughout 2007, a number of major Turkish companies announced their interest in the energy market. Below are some examples from these occasional statements.

Sabancı Holding: The number-two industrial conglomerate after Koç Holding in terms of annual turnover and profits, Sabancı has plans to take the upper hand in energy in the middle and long term. The group said they aimed to control 11 percent of the total domestic energy market and to invest around $5-5.5 billion by 2015. They struck a partnership with Austria's Verbund to cooperate in the energy market.

Koç Holding: Owning Tüpraş in the refinery sector, OPET in the gas distribution market, Aygaz and Mogaz in liquid petroleum gas (LPG) and Entek in electricity generation, Koç is planning to remain a major player in the energy business with further investment. Though they have announced their challenging intentions for the energy market, no details have so far been disclosed by the company.

GAMA Holding: GAMA found its foreign partner in the energy business with an agreement on Dec. 11, 2007. GE Financial Services, a subsidiary of the General Electric Group, bought 50 percent of GAMA Energy and created an even partnership. This company has already announced that they are planning to make $3 billion in investment within three years. At the core of their interest lie renewable energy resources, as well as nuclear energy projects.

Zorlu Holding: Already a power in the textile and electronics industries, Zorlu is also a major player in the energy market, with nine companies doing business in almost all segments of the energy market. It has operations in Europe, Asia and the Middle East as well. The company has natural gas-based electricity generation plants in numerous cities in Turkey, and it is currently working on hydroelectric, wind and geothermal energy projects. The company is currently trying to complete the construction of 54 wind turbines in Adana, a project valued at 300 million euros.

Alarko Holding: The company is planning to make an outlay of some $1.4 billion in the energy market in 2008. It is interested in nuclear energy and is trying to find foreign partners from Europe and the US. Alarko won licenses for a coal plant in Seyitömer with a capacity of 175 MW and for a 100 MW capacity hydropower plant in Karakuz, a district in Kahramanmaraş. The firm is also planning to increase the capacity of its natural gas-based power plant in Kırklareli from 85 MW to 170 MW. The company has many more projects on tap.

Çalık Holding: The company, which aims to be one of the major players in energy and telecommunications, plans to invest around $8 billion in the energy sector by 2010. It is currently constructing the Samsun-Ceyhan oil pipeline in a joint initiative with Italian energy giant Eni. The company also signed an agreement with Indian Oil for the construction of a $5 billion oil refinery in Ceyhan.

Akkök Group: The Akkök Group's energy subsidiary, Akenerji, is Turkey's first private energy company. It has natural gas and hydroelectric power plants as well as projects in wind power.

Enka Holding: It has plans for $2.2 billion of investments in the energy sector by 2010. It has natural gas power plants in Adapazarı, Gebze, İzmir, and it is interested in electricity distribution rights tenders.

Doğuş Holding: The group's first concrete initiative in energy is the Aslancık hydroelectric power plant. It is also interested in electricity distribution tenders.

Sanko Holding: The company had previously announced it was planning $2 billion of investment in energy but reduced this to $300 million due to the appreciation of the Turkish lira against foreign currencies.

Polat Holding: Polat is interested in electricity distribution tenders, nuclear power plants and wind power plants. It aims to reach an annual capacity of 400 MW by 2010.

Dedeman Holding: Famous for its tourism and mining operations, Dedeman has decided to move into the energy sector. It has a hydroelectric power project and is interested in thermal, wind and geothermal power plant projects.

Eren Holding: It will invest $1.5 billion in a coal-based power plant in Zonguldak. It is also interested in alternative energy resources.

Borusan Holding: The group has purchased 70 percent of Maya Energy, Brightwell Holding's subsidiary. It plans around $700 million in investment in energy.

Atasay Group: Jewelry maker Atasay plans to begin importing 600 million kWh of electric power annually from Iran in four months. It has already applied for wind power and hydroelectric power licenses, and it is in search of a foreign partner for electricity distribution tenders.