Hilmi Güler
Mehmet Hilmi Güler (born 15 July 1946) is a Turkish politician and metallurgical engineer. He was the Energy and Natural Resources Minister of Turkey in 2002–2009. He served as the general director of the Machines and Chemical Industries Board (MKEK) and Etibank. He was a founding member of the currently ruling AKP.
Hilmi Güler | |
|---|---|
 Hilmi Güler at the World Economic Forum on Europe and Central Asia in Istanbul | |
| Mayor of Ordu | |
| Assumed office 1 April 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Engin Tekintaş |
| Minister of Energy and Natural Resources | |
| In office 18 November 2002 – 1 May 2009 | |
| Prime Minister | Abdullah Gül Recep Tayyip Erdoğan |
| Preceded by | Zeki Çakan |
| Succeeded by | Taner Yıldız |
| Member of the Grand National Assembly | |
| In office 3 November 2002 – 12 June 2011 | |
| Constituency | Ordu (2002, 2007) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 15 July 1946 Ordu, Turkey |
| Nationality | Turkish |
| Political party | Justice and Development Party (AKP) |
| Alma mater | Middle East Technical University |
| Profession | Politician |
Education
Güler graduated from the Department of Metallurgy at the Middle East Technical University and worked as a project engineer and group chairman at TUSAŞ Aerospace Industries (TAİ). He went on to an academic career as deputy chairman of the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK).
Political career
As energy minister as well as the day-to-day running of this important department dealing with Turkey's gas, electricity requirements he has had to deal with a number of issues including:
- Privatisation of Turkey's energy sector
- Enquiries into the corruption allegations against the previous (ANAP) government concerning the deal it made to purchase natural gas from Russia, the Blue Stream agreement.
- Negotiating other natural gas purchases with countries including Iran.
- Plans, sponsored by Güler, to build three nuclear power stations in Turkey.
- Continued oil exploration and investment in hydro-electric power.
- A strategy for the mining of boron, of which Turkey is the world's largest producer
Personal life
He is married and has two children.