Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar stated that about 7.5 million cubic meters of gas is produced daily in the Sakarya gas field, emphasizing that “30% of our gas requirement towards 2030 will come from Sakarya.”

Minister Bayraktar mentioned that energy demand in Turkey is increasing, leading to more investments in oil, natural gas, and electricity production.

Speaking at the CERAWeek conference by S&P Global in Houston, Texas, USA, Bayraktar pointed out that the biggest challenge they face in the market is import dependency. He stated, “Our policy is shaped by reducing import dependency to ensure energy security and to provide our citizens with reliable, affordable energy supply.” Bayraktar highlighted their focus on increasing the use of renewable energy and expressed that significant progress will be made in small modular reactors (SMR) in the coming years. Referring to the daily extraction of about 7.5 million cubic meters of gas from the Sakarya gas field, Bayraktar said, “Next month, we will increase this to 9.5 million cubic meters, and by 2026, to 20 million cubic meters. This will ensure that 15% of our domestic demand comes from Sakarya gas. 30% of our gas requirement towards 2030 will come from Sakarya.”

Bayraktar described the agreement with TPAO as a historic step forward in enhancing skills for unconventional oil and gas production and seeking opportunities in this field. He announced TPAO’s agreement with Continental Resources and TransAtlantic to enter this sector, focusing on unconventional oil and gas production in the region of Diyarbakır Basin, which would be a first in energy cooperation between Turkey and the US. Bayraktar expressed his belief that this is a historic step and will mark a new era for oil and gas exploration in Turkey. Providing information on investments in liquefied natural gas (LNG), Bayraktar explained that infrastructure investments in this area would allow surplus gas to be exported to neighboring markets, especially in Southeast Europe. He mentioned, “Currently, Syria and Iraq also need gas, so through our infrastructure, we can supply gas to these neighboring countries.”

Bayraktar mentioned their efforts to increase oil and gas production, stating ongoing 3D seismic studies in the offshore area of Somalia and upcoming work in Libya. He also hinted at a significant upcoming investment announcement. Focusing on electricity production with carbon-free sources like renewable energy, Bayraktar noted the strong interest from both domestic and foreign investors in their announced program, allocating a capacity of 2 gigawatts. He disclosed that they will soon announce an international company’s investment in a solar energy project in Turkey.