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Rising tensions in the Middle East could push Türkiye to accelerate its nuclear energy program to strengthen energy security, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar told reporters on Wednesday at an international nuclear summit in France.
Responding to a question about whether developments in the Middle East might accelerate Türkiye’s nuclear projects, Bayraktar said, "I hope it speeds them up."
Bayraktar also said Türkiye currently faces no difficulty securing energy supplies despite the effective halt of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, thanks to its diversified import structure. "Right now there is no sign of a supply issue in Türkiye. We have no difficulty obtaining our energy. We import energy from many different sources," he added.
Bayraktar highlighted that Türkiye continues investing in a range of energy sources to maintain a balanced supply mix as electricity demand is expected to grow in the coming years.
While construction continues at Türkiye’s first nuclear power plant in Akkuyu on the Mediterranean coast, where the first reactor is expected to launch this year, Bayraktar reiterated plans to add eight more large-scale reactors, with projects planned in the Black Sea province of Sinop and the Thrace region.
Negotiations with several countries regarding potential cooperation on these projects are ongoing, he added, recalling his recent visits to South Korea and Canada, where he held meetings on nuclear cooperation.
He also noted talks with French companies on these projects and on small modular reactors (SMRs), which are also part of Türkiye’s long-term nuclear plans, describing them as a new opportunity in the evolving global nuclear sector.
Despite the geopolitical developments in the Middle East, Bayraktar said Türkiye does not adjust its overall energy strategy based on short-term events. Instead, he said the country follows a long-term strategy centered on maximizing renewable energy production while expanding nuclear capacity and continuing oil and gas exploration.
He noted that Türkiye has been conducting oil and natural gas exploration in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea using its own drilling vessels.
The minister said strengthening nuclear capacity, particularly in the SMR field, forms an important part of Türkiye’s long-term energy strategy. "Türkiye’s story of energy independence actually means a story of economic independence," he said.
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