The International Energy Research Center "Ember" published a report on Turkey's dependence on coal for generating electricity. The report said that 36% of electricity in Turkey is generated from coal, up from 25% in 2013. Thus, Turkey ranks second in Europe in terms of generating energy from coal after Germany.

In 2023, Turkey spent the equivalent of $3.7 billion to import coal and generate electricity from it, amounting to 118 terawatt hours, in contrast to Europe’s trend as a continent to dispense with unclean energy, especially coal. Brussels has set the year 2040 to complete its green transition plan, while Turkey has set the year 2053, but not with a plan towards a specific goal of completely eliminating fossil fuels in energy generation.

Regional Director of Ember Ufuk Alp Arslan said that Turkey may, in the near future, occupy first place in Europe in its use of coal to generate electricity if it continues its accelerated steps, in addition to the neutrality of Germany, Belgium and many other European countries from using environmentally polluting fossil fuels in generating electricity.

73% of Turkey's coal imports in 2023 came from Russia due to the decline in Russian gas prices after the Russian-Ukrainian war.