Wholesale: The wholesale companies must obtain license from the EMRA to engage in wholesale activities with free consumers. It is not obligatory for the legal entities holding import licenses to obtain a wholesale license. They may carry out natural gas wholesale activities under the import license.
The legal entities that wish to engage in wholesale activities must show evidence for where it shall procure the natural gas and by which transportation conditions it shall sell the natural gas, and prove that it has sufficient technical and economical power and necessary storage capacity for the purpose of operating the system safely, and further provide other guarantees and undertakings stated in the regulations, in order to obtain a licence.
Legal entities performing natural gas sales to distribution companies must draw up supply schedules as necessary and take measures for adequate storage in order to meet maximum seasonal natural gas demands of the customers, and to present the lease contracts executed with the storage companies for this purpose to the EMRA, within the period determined by the EMRA. For the purpose of taking necessary measures, storage for a five year period from the date of licence shall be granted. Such a period may be extended by an EMRA decision for two years if the storage facilities in the country do not reach sufficient capacity.
Additionally, according to climatic indicators each year, the EMRA is authorised to determine the storage quantities to be maintained with a view to balance the intensive seasonal demand of the following year for each city, and to take any necessary measures.
The legal entities engaged in wholesale trading of natural gas to free consumers must provide gas entrance to their customers within the seasonal, daily and hourly flexibility ranges. Wholesalers must reach the required supply and storage capacity and must also take necessary storage measurements within the five year period following the date of licence. For this purpose, they shall submit to the EMRA the lease contracts to be executed with the storage companies. Such a term may be extended if the storage facilities in the country do not reach a sufficient level.
The legal entities engaged in the wholesale of natural gas must attain the transmission, storage and system balancing capacities in order to meet the expected demand within a period determined by the EMRA. The wholesale company shall enter into a sales contract with the import or export companies or free consumer or distribution companies and freely determine the fees. Commercially confidential information may not be disclosed to third parties, except for the EMRA, and may not be abused.
Wholesale companies must obtain an import license in order to import natural gas. The total gas amount sold by each wholesale company in one year may not exceed 20% of the national consumption forecast determined for the current year by the EMRA. The wholesale companies may sell all over the country without any regional restriction.
