Abstract:

In recent years Turkey's economic growth has been increased rapidly in parallel with the use of energy resources. Especially natural gas among the sources of energy is standing out with increasing use, both in residences and industries due to its clean source and ease of use. However, the consumption quantitiy of natural gas realizations in all cities are not equal. From this point the scope of this study is investigating the effect of increasing natural gas consumption to regional development. For this purpose exploratory spatial data analysis (ESDA) has been applied in the study. According to the results of spatial disparities have been identified, both in consumption quantitiy of natural gas and in the level of socio-economic development. These spatial inequalities reflect Turkey’s east-west dilemma in socio-economic differences. Furthermore natural gas consumption and socioeconomic development level’s spatial clusters were identified in this study. These spatial clusters are similar for both variables between each other. This similitude shows that both natural gas –high quality, clean and also easy to use- investment and usage is inadequate in the low level of socio-economic development regions. In order to improve these underdeveloped provinces’ economic conditions in Eastern and South Eastern Anatolian regions in Turkey, policy makers should create such an economic environment to increase investments in energy and therefore promoting the consumption of natural gas is required

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