20.10.2026 15:52
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar said in his speech at Ankara University’s 2026-2027 Academic Year Opening Ceremony that the world is facing the greatest energy crisis of modern times. Noting that the age of artificial intelligence is also an age of electricity, Bayraktar emphasized that Turkey has experienced periodic disruptions in its economy due to energy imports and that foreign dependency must be reduced.
Minister Bayraktar stated that global conflicts, disruptions in supply chains and geopolitical risks bring energy security to the fore. Bayraktar noted that Turkey's main goals are to meet increasing energy demand and to contribute to reducing the current account deficit by decreasing foreign dependency.
“IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO IMAGINE A LIFE WITHOUT ENERGY”
Pointing out that access to energy in an uninterrupted, high-quality and affordable way is of critical importance for both daily life and the future of countries, Bayraktar said the following:
“The energy issue is one of the most important matters directly affecting the daily lives and futures of nations and states. It is impossible to imagine a life without energy. It is impossible to imagine a life without energy 24/7 in every area of our daily lives. Therefore, we must access energy in a high-quality, uninterrupted and cheap way.”
“WE ARE HERE WITH A NEGATIVE AGENDA”
Drawing attention to the fact that the energy issue mostly comes onto the agenda through price increase debates, Bayraktar said, “Right now, in some energy-rich countries, for example Russia, there are fuel shortages, and fuel queues are forming. That is when energy comes onto our agenda, when we pay bills. Is there a price increase? Are you raising natural gas prices? Is there an increase in electricity? Why are there price increases in fuel every day? That is how we become the agenda.”
Stating that there is a large team working to provide uninterrupted energy 365 days a year, Bayraktar said, “In fact, we exist with a negative agenda, but perhaps your electricity is cut once in a blue moon, and then you realize what energy is. Sometimes we also realize that these things are not seen. Frankly, this is a somewhat sad situation for those workers.”
“WE ARE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GLOBAL ENERGY CRISIS”
Underlining that there is a major energy shortage in the world, Bayraktar said, “We are right in the middle of the global energy crisis, and this is not my own phrasing; it is what energy experts all over the world say. We are facing the biggest energy crisis of modern times. This crisis is not like the 1973 oil crisis or the crisis experienced after the 1979 Iranian Revolution.”
Recalling that crises have occurred one after another, from the pandemic to the Russia-Ukraine war and from trade wars to disruptions in supply chains, Bayraktar commented, “We are in the midst of a major political crisis and a major security crisis. The world is changing, there are more protectionist policies, and countries are trying to become self-sufficient.”
THE AGE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, THE AGE OF ELECTRICITY
Emphasizing that the age of artificial intelligence is also an age of electricity, Bayraktar said that energy demand in Turkey will gradually increase due to factors such as population growth, economic growth, electric transportation, cooling needs and water treatment.
“ALL LIGHTS IN THE CURRENT ACCOUNT DEFICIT POINT TO US”
Stating that fluctuations have occurred in the economy due to Turkey's foreign dependency in energy, Bayraktar continued as follows:
“We have tourism, but unfortunately Turkey imports more and always needs foreign currency. Today, we see this at the very root of the fractures in our economy. When we ask who is responsible for the current account deficit, all lights point to energy and mineral imports, that is, to us. Turkey imports so much energy that, unfortunately, we experience fluctuations in the economy from time to time. Therefore, the issue we need to solve is being able to reduce Turkey's foreign dependency in energy.”
The program, attended by Minister Bayraktar as well as Ankara University Rector Prof. Dr. Necdet Ünüvar, academics and students, ended with a photo shoot and award presentation.