Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar has stated that a new era in oil and natural gas exploration will begin in Turkey.
In an interview with Hürriyet, Bayraktar explained that Turkey may revise its current energy strategy, with plans to usher in significant changes in oil and gas exploration. He highlighted that Turkmen gas deliveries would commence on March 1, emphasizing the country’s long-term goals, including the extension of a five-year swap agreement for gas deliveries.
Under the swap agreement, Turkmen gas will be transported through Iran, with 1.3 billion cubic meters of gas expected this year. This amount is sufficient to meet the needs of approximately 1.5 million households, Bayraktar said. He also expressed the intention to finalize a long-term swap agreement, and ideally, bring Turkmen gas to Turkey via a Caspian-transit pipeline as originally planned.
Currently, Turkey’s daily natural gas production from the Black Sea is 7 million cubic meters, which satisfies the demand of around 3 million households. However, production is expected to rise to 9.5 million cubic meters by the time of Eid al-Fitr, which begins on March 30. By the third quarter of 2026, daily gas production will increase to 20 million cubic meters, covering 15% of the country’s annual gas consumption with domestically produced gas, Bayraktar added.
In the Gabar oil field, the goal is to achieve daily production of 100,000 barrels, with 153 exploration wells to be drilled this year. The minister explained that the gas from the Black Sea and oil from Gabar would help reduce Turkey’s energy subsidies, contributing an estimated $3.5 billion, or about 130 billion Turkish Liras, to the national budget.
Bayraktar also touched upon Turkey’s energy support efforts in Syria, noting that four Turkish teams have already been sent to Syria and concrete actions have been taken. These include increased electricity exports to Northern Syria, now reaching 210 megawatts, with plans to enhance this via existing lines. Additionally, there are plans to revive the Çobanbey-Aleppo electricity line and add 500 megawatts to Aleppo over the next five to six months, as well as export natural gas to the city.
