05.11.2026 12:00
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar announced Turkey's new energy roadmap at the National Energy 2040 Launch. Stating that they aim to reduce foreign dependency in energy below 50% by 2030, Bayraktar emphasized “an energy-independent Turkey” for 2040. Bayraktar announced that approximately 1.1 trillion dollars were paid for energy and mining imports over the last 24 years, and said that nuclear energy must definitely be added to the energy mix.
Türkiye is preparing for a new era in energy policies. Minister Bayraktar shared details of the comprehensive program that will both strengthen supply security and support the fight against climate change, saying, “We will take the steps that will make Türkiye independent. We will be independent in energy.”
ROADMAP AHEAD OF COP31
Bayraktar stated that before the United Nations Climate Conference (COP31) to be held in Antalya, they wanted to share Türkiye’s energy and climate targets with the public. He said the National Energy 2040 program would form the basic framework of Türkiye’s energy strategy in the coming years.
Reminding that Türkiye announced its National Energy and Mining Policy in 2017, Bayraktar stated that at this point a longer-term planning was needed. He noted that the new roadmap in the mining field would be announced together with the Mining Council planned to be held in 2027.
“THE WORLD IS CAUGHT IN A PERFECT STORM”
Stating that the pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war, trade wars, tariffs, and regional conflicts caused significant ruptures in the global energy system, Bayraktar said the last 6 years had been quite difficult. Bayraktar stated that the world was as if caught in a “perfect storm,” with one crisis beginning before another ended.
Stating that this situation made updating existing energy programs mandatory, Bayraktar noted that Türkiye also needed to set new targets according to changing conditions.
TWO CRITICAL AREAS IN THE AGE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
Stating that the world has entered a new technological era, Bayraktar said there are two basic elements to being competitive in the age of artificial intelligence. Stating that the first of these is critical minerals and the second is electricity and energy infrastructure, Bayraktar emphasized that it is not possible to compete in advanced technology without sufficient and reliable energy production.
Drawing attention to the fact that data centers consume very high amounts of electricity, Bayraktar stated that the need for uninterrupted, high-quality, and clean energy is increasing rapidly.
POPULATION MAY REACH 91.5 MILLION, ECONOMY MAY INCREASE 1.9-FOLD
Stating that Türkiye is among the countries with increasing energy demand, Bayraktar said the main reasons for this are population, economic growth, and urbanization. He reported that according to TÜİK data, Türkiye’s population is expected to reach approximately 91.5 million in 2040.
Also referring to the work of the Presidency of Strategy and Budget, Bayraktar stated that the economy is expected to grow by an average of 4.4 percent annually until 2040 and gross domestic product is expected to increase approximately 1.9-fold. Bayraktar emphasized that this growth would create a serious energy need and that production and infrastructure capacity must be established now.
AIR CONDITIONING AND SEAWATER DESALINATION WILL INCREASE DEMAND
Stating that energy consumption is increased not only by population and growth but also by climate change and new living habits, Bayraktar drew attention to the spread of air conditioning use. He said that due to water scarcity brought by global warming, the electricity consumption required for seawater desalination has also been taken into account in the 2040 program.
Arguing that energy supply security and the fight against climate change are not alternatives to each other, Bayraktar stated that achieving the two goals at the same time is not easy, but they can be carried out simultaneously with the right policies.
ENERGY IMPORTS ARE AMONG THE LARGEST COMPONENTS OF THE CURRENT ACCOUNT DEFICIT
Reminding that energy imports reached 96.5 billion dollars in 2022, Bayraktar stated that over the average of the last 4-5 years, Türkiye paid approximately 65-70 billion dollars annually for energy imports. Bayraktar explained that the amount paid for energy and mining imports over the last 24 years was approximately 1.1 trillion dollars.
Stating that solving the current account deficit problem requires transformation in two areas, Bayraktar said these are high value-added production and reducing the energy import bill. Bayraktar emphasized that the transformation in the defense industry must be experienced across all of industry.
TARGET FOR FOREIGN DEPENDENCE IS BELOW 50 PERCENT
Bayraktar said that in the 2022-2025 period there was a current account deficit of approximately 33 billion dollars, and in the same period the rate of foreign dependence in energy stood at 67-68 percent. Stating that if this rate falls to the 48-50 percent range, a strong improvement in the current account deficit can be achieved, Bayraktar explained that the 2030 targets are to reduce foreign dependence below 50 percent.
Emphasizing that within the scope of the Century of Türkiye targets they aim to create an energy-independent Türkiye in 2040, Bayraktar stated that energy policies will be shaped in this direction.
“THE CHEAPEST AND CLEANEST ENERGY IS SAVED ENERGY”
Bayraktar said they are focusing on 5 main headings for energy independence, and the first of these is energy efficiency. Stating that energy must be used more efficiently in every area from industry to transportation and from agriculture to buildings, Bayraktar described efficiency as “the cleanest and cheapest energy.”
Reminding that after the National Energy Efficiency Action Plan covering the 2017-2023 period, the second program for 2024-2030 was put into effect, Bayraktar explained that a total of 20 billion dollars in investment is targeted in the public and private sectors in this period. He also reminded that with the circular of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, a target of 30 percent energy savings was set in public buildings.
EASIER FINANCING FOR HOME INSULATION
Bayraktar said that in many areas, from home insulation to efficiency projects in industry, citizens and companies need to have easier access to financing. Stating that bureaucratic processes need to be simplified, Bayraktar said all public institutions bear responsibility in this regard. He also noted that a much more ambitious new efficiency program will be prepared for after 2030.
“TÜRKİYE MUST ADD NUCLEAR TO ITS ENERGY MIX”
Stating that Türkiye must definitely include nuclear energy in its energy mix, Bayraktar commented, “If the world is sincere in the fight against climate change, nuclear must definitely be in the energy system.”
Reminding that under COP28, many countries set the goal of tripling global nuclear capacity by 2050, Bayraktar said Türkiye had also joined this alliance. Bayraktar stated that in the era of artificial intelligence and data centers, nuclear would be one of the indispensable resources and investments in this field would accelerate in the coming period.