Newsletters
Türkiye has signed energy and mining cooperation agreements with about 20 African countries and plans to finalize another with Gambia, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said Thursday.
Speaking at the “Energy and Mining” panel during the Türkiye-Africa Business and Economic Forum in Istanbul, Bayraktar said these agreements have translated into tangible projects built on “trust, mutual respect, and shared progress.”
The forum, hosted by the Trade Ministry and organized by the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK) in coordination with the African Union, is being held under the theme “Strengthening Türkiye-Africa Relations for Shared Gains.”
Bayraktar emphasized that Türkiye and Africa share a common vision for an independent energy future. “Africa is important for Türkiye. Over the past two decades, our relations with Africa have deepened in diplomacy, education, culture, tourism, trade, investment, energy, and mining,” he said.
He underlined that Türkiye’s transformation in the energy sector under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s leadership serves as a “meaningful example” for Africa, noting that the country attracted over $100 billion in investments in its electricity generation markets in the last 23 years.
Bayraktar said Turkish firms are ready to work on solar, wind, hydroelectric, microgrid, and storage projects, highlighting the vast potential for renewable energy collaboration between Türkiye and African nations.
He added that Türkiye’s state-owned international mining companies, MTA International Mining (MTAIC) and Eti Maden, are active in Niger, where the country will “very soon start its first gold production.”
“The work of MTAIC in Niger shows how resource development can support employment, technology transfer, and sustainable growth in local communities,” Bayraktar said.
The minister said Africa holds around 30% of global reserves of critical minerals but accounts for less than 1% of global clean energy production. “This imbalance can be addressed through joint exploration, processing, and value creation,” he noted.
Bayraktar emphasized capacity building and human capital as the driving forces of transformation, adding that Türkiye is ready to cooperate through knowledge sharing and technical training.
3 min read
