06.10.2025 15:35
President Erdoğan said, "The agreement you signed with the USA envisions the development of next-generation technologies such as advanced reactor technologies. Anyone who cares about Turkey's well-being would not be disturbed by these. We are facing unjust criticisms from the main opposition. What can we say, politics can only be done this way from a distance."
President Erdoğan made statements at the 11th Energy Efficiency Forum and Fair at the Istanbul Congress Center. Responding to criticisms from CHP Chairman Özgür Özel, Erdoğan said, "The agreement you signed with the USA foresees the development of next-generation technologies such as advanced reactor technologies. No one who cares about Turkey's well-being should be disturbed by these. We are subjected to unjust criticisms from the main opposition. What can we say, politics can only be done this way with a remote control," he said.
Highlights from President Erdoğan's statements are as follows; "We are living in an age where energy, particularly energy supply security, has become one of humanity's most strategic issues. With the increasing population and growing economy, the world's energy needs are also rising year by year. Moreover, developing countries are striving for growth above the world average to reach a certain level of development quickly. Humanity faces a future filled with challenges regarding energy demand and supply security. I would also like to draw your attention to this point. Energy has been a subject of destructive competition rather than cooperation for many years in human history. Especially the 19th and 20th centuries have left deep scars in minds as centuries where many lives were lost for energy and many countries were exploited.
"ABOUT 134 THOUSAND ELECTRIC CARS SOLD"
The late Raif Karadağ's book 'Oil Storm' is a reference work that sheds light on this period. The imperialist mentality that sees a drop of oil as more valuable than a drop of blood has dragged humanity into pains, destructions, and debates whose effects are still felt today. While millions of people living on rich underground resources struggle with deep poverty, countries thousands of kilometers away from these resources have grown, become wealthy, and provided a prosperous life for their citizens. The gap in prosperity and development caused by this has not yet been closed despite all the time that has passed. The increase in energy demand indicates not only population growth but also an increase in prosperity. The usage area of electricity is becoming widespread. The area of use is gradually expanding. Last year, white goods sales exceeded 10 million with a 7% increase. About 134 thousand electric cars were sold.
"WE HAVE REACHED NATURAL GAS TO ALL 81 PROVINCES"
Another point to mention is this; The increase in energy demand indicates not only population growth and expansion but also an increase in prosperity. Parallel to the increase in prosperity, the usage area of energy, especially electricity, is becoming widespread. Electric products, which are seen as equivalent to comfort, have now become an indispensable part of our lives, and their usage area is gradually expanding. For example, last year, white goods sales in our country increased by 7% compared to the previous year, exceeding 10 million. The same situation applies to electric cars. Just like in the rest of the world, the number of electric and hybrid vehicles in our country is rising asymmetrically. For instance, in the January-September period of this year, about 134 thousand electric cars were sold. A life without electricity is no longer possible not only in cities but also in the most remote villages and towns.
We are facing a similar picture in natural gas usage as well. Look, in 2002, the number of cities with natural gas infrastructure in our country was only 5. Today, we have reached natural gas to all 81 provinces. 23 years ago, 33% of our population had access to natural gas, and today we have increased this rate to 85%, and this number is gradually increasing. As Turkey, we have been in serious economic dynamism since 2002. Our economy grew at an average annual rate of 5.4% between 2003-2024. In 2004, we recorded a growth of 3.3%. We took our per capita national income from 3,600 dollars during the same period to 15,325 dollars in 2024. In the second quarter of 2025, the annualized per capita national income approached 17,000 dollars. We entered the league of economies with a trillion-dollar economy for the first time in 2023, taking over a national income of 238 billion dollars.
"OUR ESTIMATE FOR 2025 IS 59.5 BILLION CUBIC METERS"
You know, we shared the medium-term program with the public last month. With the program, we set ambitious targets for the next three years. We foresee that by 2028, our economy will reach a size of 1.9 trillion dollars, and our per capita national income will rise to 21,000 dollars. We aim to increase our exports to 300 billion dollars and our tourism revenues to over 70 billion dollars. We expect our population to exceed 88 million by 2030 and reach 94 million by 2050. We all know very well what this means in terms of energy demand and consumption.
I believe we are all aware of this striking reality; We are not a country with sufficient amounts of oil and natural gas like the countries around us. We must procure the vast majority of the fossil fuels we use in daily life and in industry from abroad. Our natural gas consumption, which was 17.4 billion cubic meters in 2002, increased to 53.2 billion cubic meters in 2024. Our estimate for 2025 is 59.5 billion cubic meters. Just in the first eight months of this year, we paid 26 billion dollars for energy imports. We are making intense efforts to reduce this bill. We made the largest natural gas discovery in the history of the Republic of Turkey five years ago in the Black Sea, with a total of 785 billion cubic meters.
"WE SIGNED THE LARGEST GAS DISCOVERY IN SAKARYA"
We expect our population to exceed 88 million by 2030. We know what this means for energy demand. As Turkey, we have been in economic dynamism since 2002. We increased our per capita national income to 15,325 dollars in 2024. In the second quarter of 2025, the per capita national income reached 17,000 dollars. We foresee that by 2028, our economy will reach a size of 1.9 trillion dollars, and our per capita national income will rise to 21,000 dollars. Just in the first 8 months of this year, we paid 26 billion dollars for energy imports. We are making intense efforts to reduce this bill. Last month, we shared the medium-term program with the public.
We signed the largest gas discovery in Sakarya. We delivered the natural gas extracted from the Sakarya gas field to the service of the nation in less than three years. We supply gas to 4 million households from here. Although we have made significant progress in our discoveries of Black Sea gas and oil in Gabar, the current picture still shows that there is a distance we need to cover. As in all other areas, we will continue to run tirelessly until we reach our goal of a fully independent Turkey in energy. On one hand, we are trying to reveal our own resources, while on the other hand, we are working to ensure our energy supply security in line with the increasing demand. As you know very well, buying natural gas from international markets is not like buying soda from a grocery store. You will need to determine your needs, make your plans, find reliable suppliers, and after long negotiations, you will reach an agreement at the best prices under the most favorable conditions for your country.
Being dependent on a single country, source, and a single line at the supply point carries serious risks.
We have implemented projects that will make our country an energy hub. We have diversified our suppliers. We have other nuclear power plant projects besides Akkuyu. Our discussions regarding these are ongoing. The memorandum you signed with the USA foresees the development of next-generation technologies such as advanced reactor technologies.
"THIS IS HOW POLITICS CAN ONLY BE DONE REMOTELY"
No one who cares about the well-being of Turkey would be disturbed by these. We are subjected to unjust criticisms from the main opposition. The only thing they can do is to be a human shield against the corruption, bribery, and embezzlement attacks and scandals that erupt daily within their party. What can we say, this is how politics can only be done remotely.
Energy efficiency is the cleanest and cheapest energy source. As a government, we have been carrying out projects aimed at increasing our energy efficiency since 2002. We have become the country that has increased energy efficiency the most. We are even converting gas from waste into electricity for use. We are avoiding steps that harm nature in the name of energy production. In recent years, we are among the leading countries investing in green energy. I wholeheartedly congratulate the institutions and companies that have received awards.