About Ahmet Eke
Ahmet Eke, General Manager and Board Member at Aytemiz Akaryakıt Dağıtım Aş, spoke at the Petroleum Istanbul fair in March 2023, describing the event as more lively and positive than expected despite the recent earthquake in Turkey. He stated that the energy sector is going through a dynamic period, noting that the country is dependent on imported natural gas and oil, which directly affects the economy and purchasing power. Eke emphasized that over 80% of fuel sold in Turkey is retail, and that companies must focus on consumer satisfaction.
Eke discussed the sector's response to the earthquake, saying that distribution companies, terminals, and dealers performed well after an initial panic. He remarked that the crisis highlighted the importance of energy and that stakeholders are now discussing how to better prepare for future emergencies, adding that they do not want to be caught unprepared again. He also noted that the industry has become more disciplined due to national marker and automation controls, and that competition is increasingly focused on service quality rather than price.
Source: AI-verified profile updated from Ahmet Eke's recent appearances.
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Transcript (7 segments)
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Interviewer0:09
Hello everyone from Pedotik TV. Right now with me is Ahmet Eke, General Manager of Aytemiz. Welcome, Ahmet Bey, nice to have you.
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Ahmet Eke0:21
Thank you. The fair is more lively and better than expected. This is an energy field, so we need to give and receive energy. It's better than expected because, as you know, a great disaster occurred in our country a month ago. We keep remembering, but regarding the disaster in the region, how can we heal the wounds and pains? Supporting from afar isn't easy. Hopefully, we'll overcome it. In terms of timing, it could have been a much more energy-filled fair. We're experiencing both sorrow and energy at the same time. But it's a busy fair with many visitors. In our stand, with our customers and dealers, it's very dynamic.
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Interviewer1:08
We're going through very busy times. What would you like to say about this? What kind of new era awaits us at fuel stations?
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Ahmet Eke1:17
First, I need to address the concept of energy. In the world, after the pandemic, the importance of energy has become clear, especially with the war in our region. As a country, we are dependent on natural gas and petroleum. Energy directly affects the economy and purchasing power. On the electrical side, progress has been made, but in petroleum, we must use it efficiently. Every liter counts. Competition and efficient use are key. Turkey has 22 million vehicles and consumes 30 million tons of oil. The solution is to access resources at lower costs. Geographically, we're favorable. In Turkey, the sector is competitive with about 38 distribution companies and 13,000 dealers. National marker and automation have reduced illegal activities. Now, competition is on price, but the best competition is on service. Each brand tries to make stations more attractive. At Aytemiz, for 12-13 years, we've been developing our network and service-oriented approaches. Consumer expectations are important. 80% of fuel is sold at pumps, so we must satisfy consumers with good service and fair prices, especially in an inflationary environment. We've innovated with electric vehicle charging units and motorcyclist-friendly concepts. Competition is good for consumers, but sustainability is key. We need to share with our people.
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Interviewer6:12
Lastly, let me ask: as you know, we recently experienced a great tragedy. We saw that fuel stations have different missions besides fuel. What lessons has the sector learned? Will there be a transformation in fuel stations? Do you have any studies on this?
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Ahmet Eke6:37
The disaster in Turkey was truly a once-in-500-year event. We must be prepared for all natural disasters. In those difficult days, the sector performed well. Public authorities and distribution companies acted from the first days. After initial panic, things normalized. Energy is everything. The petroleum sector is ready. We have no issues with depots or logistics. But every negative thing requires preventive measures. As stakeholders, we discuss what to do in such crises. We don't want to be caught unprepared again. We'll apply the lessons learned from this.
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Interviewer7:49
Thank you very much. Hope to see you again on better days. Goodbye.
