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Türkiye's Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar announced that new exploration activities are ongoing and that a new piece of good news from the Black Sea may be shared within this month.
Bayraktar made these remarks during an interview on a Turkish TV outlet, discussing current energy projects and developments in the country.
Minister Bayraktar highlighted several important discoveries, including those in the Black Sea, Gabar, and Diyarbakir regions. "We are conducting new drilling operations related to these discoveries. Hopefully, we will share another good piece of news with our nation soon," Bayraktar said, expressing optimism for further advancements.
He also mentioned that the government is continuing to invest in these areas, with a focus on both energy and employment opportunities. "In Gabar, we have made the largest oil discovery in the country's history. Today, Gabar has become a production and employment hub, especially for the youth in the region," Bayraktar noted.
Bayraktar discussed Türkiye’s efforts to strengthen its energy independence, particularly in the Sakarya Gas Field. "We are working to increase production in the Sakarya Gas Field by four times by 2028," Bayraktar said. He explained that Türkiye's national energy and mineral policies, introduced in 2017, had led to significant strides in utilizing domestic resources for the country's energy needs.
He emphasized that in 2020, amid the pandemic, Türkiye made the largest natural gas discovery in its history in the Black Sea. "This was the largest offshore gas discovery globally in 2020," Bayraktar stated. "In less than three years, we brought this natural gas from 170 kilometers beneath the sea to land in Filyos, marking a historic step for Türkiye’s energy independence."
Bayraktar added that Türkiye's energy sector has made significant progress in a relatively short period. "We have completed the first phase of the Sakarya Gas Field project, and by 2026, we aim to double production. With the third phase in 2028, we will increase production fourfold," he said.
The minister also discussed Gabar, a region once associated with terrorism, which has seen a dramatic transformation due to energy exploration activities. "Gabar, which was once synonymous with terror, has now become a hub of production and employment," Bayraktar said. "The youth of Sirnak are now staying in the region due to the job opportunities created by the Gabar oil projects."
Bayraktar also highlighted the strategic significance of these projects, stating that the "ideal of a terror-free Türkiye finds its most meaningful expression in Gabar."
Bayraktar also touched upon the recent energy issues faced by European countries, particularly power outages in Spain and Portugal. "We have no energy shortage in Türkiye," he confirmed.
"The recent power outages in Europe have been widely discussed. These issues highlight the importance of a balanced energy production portfolio. We are prepared and resilient in Türkiye’s energy sector," he added.
Bayraktar shared updates on the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant, which is expected to begin operations in 2028. Additionally, he mentioned Türkiye's plans to explore for oil in Hungary, further expanding the country's role in international energy markets.
"We are looking to explore for oil in Hungary, which will add a new dimension to our international energy strategy," Bayraktar said during the Istanbul Natural Resources Summit.
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