15.01.2026 14:23
Speaking at the International Ayder Energy Forum held in Rize, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar stated, "Turkey will be a net exporter in energy and mining. We aim for a Turkey that has eliminated foreign dependency and is independent in energy."
In Rize, the "International Ayder Energy Forum" organized with the support of the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources of the Republic of Turkey is addressing global energy policies, artificial intelligence technologies, and sustainable energy strategies between January 13-16.
THE INTERNATIONAL AYDER ENERGY FORUM IS HELD IN RIZE
The forum, attended by Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar, featured opening speakers including Hakan Gültekin, President of the International Ayder Forum Association, Rize Mayor Rahmi Metin, AK Party Deputy Chairman, Head of Information and Communication Technologies Dr. Ömer İleri, AK Party Deputy Chairman, Head of Health Policies Prof. Dr. Halit Yerebakan, AK Party Deputy Chairman, Head of Political and Legal Affairs Hayati Yazıcı, Rize Governor İhsan Selim Baydaş, Minister of Health Kemal Memişoğlu, Minister of Youth and Sports Osman Aşkın Bak, and Minister of Economy and Energy of the TRNC Olgun Amcaoğlu.
"WE WILL END TURKEY'S FOREIGN DEPENDENCY"
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar stated in his speech at the forum, "There are three fundamental issues that need to be resolved in our energy agenda." Minister Bayraktar pointed out that the first of these issues is the increasing demand in Turkey, as it is in the world, and used the following expressions:
"The second problem we need to solve is the issue of Turkey's foreign dependency in energy. We say that with the vision put forth by our President in the Century of Turkey, we will absolutely end Turkey's foreign dependency in energy, and hopefully, Turkey will become a net exporter in energy and minerals, aiming for an independent Turkey that has eliminated such foreign dependency."
"WE HAVE A MESSAGE TO TELL THE WORLD AT COP31"
Bayraktar stated that the third issue is Turkey's climate-related goals, drawing attention to COP31 (31st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) to be hosted by Turkey this year. Bayraktar expressed that there is a message to be conveyed to the world here.
"OUR DEEP-SEA FLEET IS THE FOURTH LARGEST IN THE WORLD"
Minister Bayraktar mentioned that with the last two ships added to the fleet, Turkey has become the fourth largest country in the world in terms of deep-sea fleet. Bayraktar stated, "We have 6 drilling ships, and 2 seismic ships. When you consider their support vessels, we are talking about a massive fleet. And this strategy change in 2016, thank God, led us to the discovery in the Black Sea in the midst of the pandemic in 2020. In the field we call the Sakarya gas field, we discovered the largest natural gas reserve in the history of the Republic."