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Türkiye's state-run oil and gas company, Turkish Petroleum (TPAO), formalized a new cooperation deal with French energy giant TotalEnergies on Monday, aiming to expand exploration efforts with a focus on Black Sea gas fields and potential international prospects.
The companies signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that lays out technical cooperation to jointly assess exploration opportunities in Türkiye and other regions as they expand their portfolios, according to the statement.
The agreement brings together the technical capabilities of both firms to assess hydrocarbon prospects in the Black Sea, a region that has gained strategic importance for Türkiye in recent years, the French company said.
"We are pleased to launch this cooperation with TPAO, leveraging the technical expertise of both companies to evaluate exploration opportunities in the Black Sea region and internationally on a mutually beneficial basis," Nicola Mavilla, Senior Vice-President Exploration at TotalEnergies, said.
Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said the agreement marks another step toward Türkiye’s goal of becoming a regional energy hub.
"As we work to realize our goal of transforming TPAO into a global energy player, we will continue to strengthen our nation’s journey toward full energy independence by combining our superior technical capabilities with international experience," the minister noted.
The MoU follows a series of earlier agreements Türkiye reached with major energy companies, including ExxonMobil, Chevron and Shell, as Ankara steps up efforts to expand domestic energy output and curb import dependence.
Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar had outlined earlier that Black Sea gas production is set to accelerate, with output expected to double in 2026. Longer-term targets point to daily production reaching 40–45 million cubic meters by 2028, equivalent to 16–17 billion cubic meters annually.
At the core of Türkiye’s offshore ambitions lies the Sakarya Gas Field, discovered in 2020 and located roughly 170–175 kilometers off the coast of Zonguldak in the Black Sea.
Operated by TPAO, the field stands as the country’s largest natural gas discovery and plays a pivotal role in reducing reliance on imported energy. Once fully developed, it is expected to supply up to 30% of Türkiye’s natural gas demand.
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