19.10.2026 12:50
Answering journalists' questions after the send-off ceremony for the "Osman Gazi" floating production platform, which will double production in the Black Sea Sakarya Gas Field, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Bayraktar responded to a question about energy reserves and external dependence: "Our first near-term targets are to reach daily production of 1 million barrels and reduce external dependence by 50%... New discoveries are needed for this."
Turkey's first floating production platform “Osman Gazi,” which will double natural gas production in the Sakarya Gas Field in the Black Sea, was sent off to its duty station in the Blue Homeland with a historic ceremony held in Filyos.
MINISTER BAYRAKTAR ANSWERED JOURNALISTS' QUESTIONS After the send-off ceremony, which is of critical importance for Turkey, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar answered journalists' questions on current issues. Responding to the press members' question, “What is the status of our energy reserves, and when will we get rid of being dependent?”, Minister Bayraktar shared the strategic targets they have set for Turkish Petroleum (TPAO).
“OUR FIRST NEAR-TERM TARGET IS TO REDUCE FOREIGN DEPENDENCE BY 50 PERCENT” Referring to production targets and the energy independence road map, Minister Bayraktar used the following expressions: “We still have a long way to 2 million barrels. I aim to turn Turkish Petroleum into a company producing 1 million barrels of oil and natural gas per day. We need to make it produce 1 million barrels of oil and natural gas daily. This is our first near-term target. So what do I mean? That is, we will actually have reduced our foreign dependence in oil and natural gas by 50 percent. Hopefully, when we announce our 2040 plan, you will see our 2040 target there. But of course this is not such an easy thing, that is, going to 1 million barrels. Increasing today's 300,000 barrels, 280,000 barrels to 550,000 requires new discoveries. ”
HERE IS THE Q&A WITH MINISTER BAYRAKTAR; Journalist: Let me ask this right away based on today, Mr. Minister: the 2040 Energy Architecture. What changes will it bring?
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar: On November 5, hopefully, we plan to hold a major launch. Because in this new energy architecture, which we call “National Energy 2040,” there are very important changes; we will propose very important things. Of course, its ultimate goal, its end point, is to end Turkey's foreign dependence in energy. So what are we doing for energy independence? But we are working on something very comprehensive. In other words, there will not be something that can be found lacking. You know, “how will this happen, where did these figures come from,” we will gather all of these and do something.
1 MILLION BARREL PRODUCTION TARGET Journalist: What is the status of our energy reserves, and when will we get rid of being dependent, plus will we even be able to export? Plus, citizens are also asking this, because we are among the public a lot—though you are too, of course—but how will it reflect? I mean, this is also there, of course. If you briefly explain this too, that's all from me.
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar: Right now we are producing approximately 300,000 barrels of oil and natural gas. Of course the question is this: if you ask how much we need, how much we use, Turkey's daily use is approximately 2 million barrels. So we still have a long way to go. The target that appears clear before us, together with this third phase—that is, you saw this floating production platform; hopefully next year or at the beginning of 2028 you will see the second one. It will come, and together with it, in the third phase we will increase our production, today's production, fourfold. In total, this 300,000 barrels will become 550,000 barrels. We still have a long way to 2 million barrels. I aim to turn Turkish Petroleum into a company producing 1 million barrels of oil and natural gas per day. We need to make it produce 1 million barrels of oil and natural gas daily. This is our first near-term target. So what do I mean? That is, we will actually have reduced our foreign dependence in oil and natural gas by 50 percent. Hopefully, when we announce our 2040 plan, you will see our 2040 target there. But of course this is not such an easy thing, that is, going to 1 million barrels. Increasing today's 300,000 barrels, 280,000 barrels to 550,000 requires new discoveries.
PRODUCTION IN GABAR AND THE BLACK SEA Journalist: New discoveries, that is, apart from just Gabar.
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar: New discoveries are needed. Second, we are running a more active process abroad. As you know, Turkish Petroleum became a partner in Kirkuk oil. So through partnerships, both in existing producing fields—hopefully we are carrying out very intense work and effort regarding Libya—we may give new news about that. There are efforts where we are trying to explore on our own in completely new fields such as Somalia. We are starting seismic work in Pakistan soon. On the other hand, of course, we are working in Turkey, in the Blue Homeland. We have 5 ships in the Black Sea. You saw one of them here, but the other 4 ships are currently working actively. These ships are essentially working to increase that production in the Sakarya Gas Field. So we went to the floating production platform, but the floating production platform will do this: 10 wells have been drilled below, drilling has been done. With those wells ready for production, we will connect them with the topside, connect them to the platform in the next few weeks, and then process it there and send that gas to land through pipes. So on the one hand, we need to work our existing reserves. But one of our ships is working for new drillings and new discoveries in the Black Sea. Will there be good news? Hopefully. We are digging a place we are hopeful about, we are drilling. After the seismic studies, our colleagues do the technical studies, and then they say, “There may be something here, let's drill here.” Therefore, positive, favorable news may come from the Black Sea, good news may come. In Diyarbakır, as you know, hopefully this year we are starting horizontal drilling. There, with a different method, with this fracturing method and horizontal drilling, we are looking for oil north of Bismil in Diyarbakır. We are carrying out these searches for what you have heard of as shale gas, trapped inside rocks; there is also something called shale oil. We have, you know, finished Gabar; Gabar is done, it is now producing—not just 85,000 barrels or so; we are working for new discoveries in Gabar, and hopefully new good news may come from Gabar. And in Gabar our target was 100,000 barrels per day; perhaps can we go beyond this? Hopefully we will go beyond it, that is, we aim to raise Gabar above 100,000 barrels. Therefore, on the one hand, with new discoveries and the reserves we currently have, together with our overseas operations, we are trying to end this foreign dependence.
BORON ORE Journalist: Oil and natural gas are fine, Mr. Minister, but we also have this boron mine, actually. With this boron mine, right now, well, Turkey… 73% of it. We have it in our treasury. What kind of work has been done on this recently?
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar: Do you know how much boron ore is sold in the world? 4 million tons are sold.
The entire world market.
Journalist: 70% of it is ours in Türkiye.
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar: In terms of reserves it is like that, and in sales we also have a 65% market share. That is, we sell 2.6–2.7 million tons. I mean, if we sold all of it to the whole world, which may not be possible, because it is also produced in other countries. This business has a total market of 4 million tons. Unfortunately, it is not 14 million tons; I wish it were. So there is something like that limiting us in boron. But despite this, our sales are increasing, our sales prices are increasing. 2026 will be a record year. We are reaching an export figure of approximately 1.5 billion dollars. But in terms of boron use, there is currently a 4 million ton market in the places where it is used in the world. But what are we doing? Let's make boron more value-added and turn it into boron carbide. That is, you sell 1,000 tons of boron carbide; on the other hand, you can earn the money you would earn by selling tens of thousands of tons. So, with value-added mining, we are striving to develop it, God willing.
ELECTRIFICATION Journalist: Now ecological security is also very important. Are there measures you have taken here regarding the impact on seabed life, or air pollution, or methane gas leakage? I think this is also very, very important. That is my first question. Second, within the scope of Black Sea gas, LNG investments, and international pipeline assessments, at the point where Türkiye meets its own needs, is it possible for Türkiye to become a regional gas hub at the international level as well? When could this happen? I wanted to ask whether we can imagine such a thing in the near future.
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar: You brought up the environmental issue; it is important. Because there are only a few days left until COP31. And our purpose in announcing that 2040 vision we mentioned, especially before COP, is this: Now at COP, Türkiye will say something very ambitious and try to get everyone to say it; I don't know if we can get it accepted. It is this: in 2035, we propose the following to the world—we propose 35% electrification. So what does electrification mean? It means using more electricity in all areas of the economy—in buildings, industry, transport, agriculture, whatever comes to mind. Therefore, Türkiye will propose this. A very important target, if we are to combat climate change. Now, my purpose in doing this 4-5 days before COP starts is this: Now, on the one hand, Türkiye says, let's move past 'all talk no action,' brother. We are only talking; there is no action. It is time to move to action now. So if the world is truly sincere about global warming and the environment, we must do something now. Because time is running out. That is, this +1.5 target, the +2 degree target, seems to be starting to become a dream. So the point we have now reached is what Türkiye will do in this regard—and the biggest burden falls on us, because the energy market is responsible for 75% of emissions. That is, energy-related emissions. Therefore, the energy plan we will announce as we go to COP is actually how Türkiye will ensure supply security. For example, 2040—let me give you a figure—we forecast that per capita electricity consumption in Türkiye will double. That is a very serious figure. Therefore, this actually means an increase in emissions. And on the other hand, we are putting electrification at the center of the work. For example, we say we will go this way in vehicles. We have very big targets in renewable energy. So, as I said, supply security. Second, reducing external dependence. You will see the figure in 2040. That is, in this program we will announce how self-sufficient a country Türkiye will be in energy in 2040. Third, Türkiye's 2053 target—our President's target that Türkiye will be a carbon-neutral economy in 2053. Let me tell you, it is a harder target than all of them. This is the hardest job. Because this means the entire economy changing. And on the other hand, Türkiye will do this by growing the economy. Why are we investing in natural gas? Natural gas, which was in 5 provinces in 2002, is now in 81 provinces, and this year we will take natural gas to the 1,000th settlement. In Anatolia, where we go—you said we are among the citizens—let me tell you what the citizens' biggest demand from me is: 'Minister, bring natural gas to our village.' Because the population is aging. A more comfortable fuel is needed for the elderly population. Or the young population now says, 'I want to go to the city. Because I want to live in a house with natural gas in the city.' Okay? To keep that population in the village, to keep them in rural areas, natural gas is needed. Natural gas has lower emissions than coal when generating electricity, and it is also used for heating in our cities and for cooking. Therefore, we see natural gas as a very important transition fuel. That is, we are entering the 2053 target needing more natural gas. Of course, natural gas is not the final point. In our view, the final point is nuclear. Nuclear means zero emissions. Therefore, what we will do in 2040 regarding environmental targets will also be something we explain as the Ministry of Energy. But this, for example regarding methane, there are international methane pledges by natural gas producers. That is, related to reducing our methane emissions, but Türkiye is still far behind those big producers in the world in terms of production. But over time, we also plan to join this.
Journalist: Well, is there anything technological you have developed related to this?
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar: Let me say this. Whatever the standards in the world are, we apply all these standards here. We already have international solution partners in many areas. Some of them are people who also provide us with technical support in this sense within these projects. Therefore, whatever the standard of this industry is, the one applied internationally, we apply it. Environmental standards, work safety—thank God, God willing it will not happen from now on either—we have thankfully not had an accident in occupational health and safety. Do you know, 7,000 people were working here, that is, in the preparation of this platform.
ENERGY DIPLOMACY AND COUNTRY VISITS Journalist: A fully independent Türkiye in energy—our ministry has also set a very ambitious, very important slogan. If we think along the axis of this slogan, what title would you give to these three visits? That is my first question. What is the most important intersection point? Second, the money we pay for energy imports increased by 33% in August. On the one hand, you are working at a very intense pace in the Black Sea and Gabar, and all of Türkiye is watching and awaiting your successes eagerly. But on the other hand, such a picture…… Can you explain why the relationship in between is growing?
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar: Now, let me actually say this, starting from the point I explained a little earlier about ending external dependence. Turkey has an intense effort to search for and find its own resources. In a sense, this is learned helplessness taught to us, namely “There is no oil or natural gas in Turkey.” Is that so? We have left behind the days of “Those that existed were shut down, sir, concrete was poured over them.” We said that everywhere in Turkey, in the Blue Homeland and on our lands, wherever there is something, we will search for oil and natural gas, and we are searching right now. Of course, Gabar has a special place, because Gabar is actually a place whose name is associated with terrorism; for years all of you may have written news from there about terrorism, and therefore, from such a place, today it now produces an economically very important value, with a huge contribution to the social fabric there… 3,500 very young kids work there in the mountains. 80% are children from Şırnak. Children of that region. So we have come to such a point. That is, we said we will search for natural gas and oil everywhere. We said we will use every method, you know, we will do horizontal drilling, we will search with our ships, we will do these things. But these may not be enough. Because Turkey's need is very great. That is why we say Turkey will be in Kirkuk, in Iraq, in Syria, in Libya, in Somalia, in Pakistan, in Oman, and on the other hand, we continue these searches abroad. For this, you need to conduct a very strong, powerful energy diplomacy. Now we have two very important strengths. The first is the international position, role, perception, and power of our President; our second strength is this capability we have created here, this technical capability. Now in Pakistan they say, come, let us search here together. Because they hear the story here. Turkey has drilled in deep sea and produced, it is producing its own gas. Everyone is following Gabar. Therefore, when we combine this technical capability with the power of our President, there is a very intense energy diplomacy. In other words, America can say this too. Our being in Saudi Arabia, our visit to Saudi Arabia, our relations with Russia, sir. If you want to ask something about today, today there is a great energy crisis in the world. There is a great diesel crisis. Did any of you feel it? Have you ever waited in line at a fuel station?
ENERGY SUBSIDIES Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar: I was in Russia 2 months ago. In Russia, with my own eyes, in Moscow, I saw the lines. It is the world's largest oil and natural gas producer, but there are lines at fuel stations. Although Turkey is this dependent on imports, Turkey has not had any shortage or interruption in any energy during this period. Of course, I will come to prices; now the numbers are rising, he said. I will explain that. But Saudi Arabia is an important diesel supplier for us. Russia is an important diesel supplier for us. As you know, recently a diesel agreement between Trump and Putin was discussed. Therefore, Turkey continues to buy diesel from Russia. There will be no interruption there. That is, on the one hand, we continue to use this energy diplomacy for our country's supply security as well. How Turkey was able to manage the energy crises currently being experienced, it carried out these processes actively, by keeping the bilateral cooperation with those countries strong. But why is our import bill increasing? I hope our import bill this year does not reach a figure like it did in 2022. In 2022, at the exit from the pandemic, Turkey paid 96.5 billion dollars for imports. For imports of oil, petroleum products, fuel, natural gas, and coal. That is, we reduced these figures to around 70s, 60s in 2024, in 2025, but especially after February 28, the Hormuz crisis, the Iran-Israel-America war brought us to such a point that right now the price of natural gas in Europe is 1,000 dollars. Do you know how much it is in your house?
Journalist: How much?
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar: 220 dollars.
Journalist: But they say the most expensive thing is petroleum products, energy, for us, sir, despite this.
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar: Right now, the price of 1,000 cubic meters of natural gas we use in our homes is 220 dollars. You can look at your bills. Right now in Europe, 1,000 cubic meters of natural gas is about 1,000 dollars. 970-980 dollars. The difference here is the subsidy covered by our treasury, that is, support, energy subsidies. Now in Russia, yesterday's, that is, the bad news is this: it may go to 1,200-1,300 dollars as we move toward winter, or around January-February, a worse time for Europe. So let us return a bit to today's ceremony. I said our floating production platform is 10 million cubic meters per day. If you calculate at 1,000 dollars, the daily contribution of this floating production platform to our economy is 10 million dollars. If you convert it to annual, it makes 3.6 billion dollars. Let's say you have money, you are willing to pay 1,000 dollars, I want to buy this gas. Good luck. For example, if you are buying LNG from Qatar, there is nothing to do. The ship cannot leave Qatar. The ship cannot leave Hormuz. That is, we are talking about something you cannot access even if you have money. The increase in import figures recently is because right now oil in the world, as you know, Brent is above 100 dollars, and natural gas, as I just stated, has risen above 1,000 dollars. Therefore, these import figures are reflected in us. It is reflected in fuel, but we continue support in natural gas and electricity. As the figures rise, the support figures increase even more. Normally our support figure in natural gas was around 50 percent; now, when you look at this figure, 220 dollars, 1,000 dollars, we as the state cover the 800-dollar difference in between.
Journalist: It is said that it will continue until November, but is it true, these supports in natural gas?
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar: These supports continue. The support is not November, not December, not January; we are continuing, that is.
CONNECTIVITY AND PROJECTS Journalist: Speaking of Qatar connectivity, what is the main factor that will enable the idea of transporting Qatari natural gas to Turkey and from Turkey to Europe to turn from the political evaluation stage of the project into a commercial agreement, and what stage are we at?
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar: Let me express that within a somewhat general framework as well. What this crisis has shown us is this. First, our forecast is this: this is probably the new normal in the world now. I mean, I don’t want to say this, I don’t want to get used to it and normalize it, but we are living in a world of constant crisis, constant conflict, constant shocks. Unfortunately, that’s how it is. Take 2020, the pandemic. A huge shock. A demand-side shock reflected in energy. Well, everything in our lives changed. February 2022, Russia-Ukraine. In the middle of Europe, in our region, on the other shore of the Black Sea, there is war, my friend. Well, then let’s turn to what Israel did in Gaza after October 7, the regime change in Syria in the Middle East, and so on, and finally there are other things that happened in the meantime. Trade wars. An enormous trade war between America and China, well, tariffs, customs duties, and so on. There were many disruptions in the supply chain. Well, export bans are coming. And from February onward, an Iran-America tension and war centered on energy. Now, if we had talked like this, say, six years ago—if I had said, 'Write a scenario'—probably no one could have thought that so many bad things would happen one after another in such a short time. Now we have to adapt ourselves accordingly. I mean, we in the energy world, the energy markets. But long before this, in fact, after 2016, we thought about 'how can we find a remedy for this' before these crises happened. One, diversification is Turkey’s most important strategy. That is why we, well, built new pipelines. We signed the agreement for the TurkStream pipeline in 2016. Think about this in 2020, dear friends. It changed starting from 2020, but before that we were bringing part of the natural gas we bought from Russia to Samsun Durusu, under the Black Sea, but where did half of it, especially the part feeding Istanbul and Marmara, come from? It came through Ukraine, Moldova, Romania, and Bulgaria. That’s how our old line was. This year is the 40th anniversary of our agreements with the Russians. We signed the first agreement in ’86. February 14, 1986. The first gas came to Turkey in June 1987. But that gas always came along that route. Now, could you say that in this war environment our gas would have continued to flow? I say it very clearly: it would have been impossible for that gas to come to Turkey. That is why that diversification strategy, putting the TurkStream pipeline into operation, the TANAP pipeline, bringing Azerbaijani resources here, the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, the Iraq-Turkey pipeline—we made long-term LNG agreements in America, for example, since you asked about America, in terms of energy infrastructure. If something happens on a pipeline, or when you are dependent on a single pipeline, there are three or four countries in front of you. But when you create alternatives, when competition emerges, what happens then? It becomes possible for you to buy cheaper gas, and we invested heavily in that infrastructure. Along with all this, we say, well, Qatari gas. My friend, come on, let’s do this. No, we sell everywhere with LNG. Well, you can’t sell now. So such a situation has now become a target, for example, but there is something very right that Saudi Arabia did. They built an east-west pipeline, an oil pipeline. That is, their production is in the east, and a pipeline with a capacity of 4-5 million barrels per day brings it to the west, to Yanbu port; that too has become a target, but thanks to that pipeline—while there is such a supply crisis in the world, let me tell you this. $103, $105—these are good days, good prices; I mean, in my view it is a very high price, but this is a good price; we are going through a crisis period that could reach $150-200. Hopefully it won’t happen. We have been dealing with Iraq for many long years—well, I have been dealing with Iraq for 10 years. And I say to Iraq, my friend, come on, let’s extend this pipeline to Basra. That is, the pipeline that reaches Kirkuk, the pipeline built back in the 1970s, let’s extend it to Basra. You too can do part of your exports, 40%, through Turkey. Go to a different customer, go to a European customer. Because otherwise, to enter the Mediterranean Basin, you will pass through Hormuz—let’s say you passed. You will pass through Bab al-Mandab now. Tomorrow, God forbid, there is another channel, the Suez Canal. You will also pass through there. I mean, your chance of getting stuck at one of these is high.
Therefore we have been saying this for years. I ask, commercially, who could say no to any of these projects? I mean, even a man who knows nothing about this business would say, 'This is probably a good thing.' Because it is shorter, cheaper, safer. But being able to demonstrate the political will is important.
Journalist: Let me ask a question with a bit more of an academic concern, since we are somewhat in the fields of sociology and history. Mr. Minister, now for example there is a basic theory in international relations. Mutual dependence, described as interdependence. Therefore there are very fundamental claims that these energy lines and hubs reduce conflicts. But today there seems to be a situation where this does not fully work that way, and from the perspective of energy politics or the policy-energy relationship, what do you attribute this failure today to form such a line, to form a barrier? Because indeed today these lines, dependencies, especially right now in the Middle East and so on, cannot prevent this conflict. But on the other hand, there is great dependence. …. is hurting, other places are hurting.
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar: I think we also need to consider what kind of situation we would be in if this did not exist. I always think that this mutual dependence prevents many things much more effectively. Let me say that; first of all, look, on the 18th of the month there was going to be this famous Graham Act, major sanctions on Russia. What happened? All of a sudden, America and Russia until April. This interdependence made that happen. If it hadn’t been there, it would have been worse. Despite this, we also see the following: energy infrastructure becomes the main target. For Iran this may be an existential struggle. Therefore Iran is now pressing all the buttons. That is, because the farmer on a farm in Texas in America is affected by the button it presses here, America may have to take a different stance. So it could have been worse, I can tell you that.
EUROPE Journalist: Mr. Minister, may I also ask a related question? As you know, we discussed the Middle East. Now Turkey’s domestic natural gas production is not only important in terms of energy supply security; as our professor just mentioned, it is actually also shaping this strategic weight in foreign policy, strategic partnership, and new alliances. For example, we have been talking about the Mecca Alliance for days. A new search for security, a new security architecture is being drawn, and new energy and trade corridors are now redrawing geopolitical maps. Right at this point, while we increase domestic production both in the Black Sea and, as you just mentioned, in the Blue Homeland and other places, both in terms of drilling and production capacity, this also actually brings Turkey forward as a very strong architect and leading actor in our regional security architecture. In your view, does the combination of these two strategic moves give Turkey the chance right now to be one of the countries determining the rules of the new geopolitical order extending both in the Middle East and to Europe, beyond merely giving Turkey energy independence? I wrote an article on this subject; I linked the Mecca Alliance to energy corridors, and actually railways are included in this too, and at the same time the Hejaz railway is now being reactivated. I also mentioned Saudi Arabia reactivating that route to bypass the Strait of Hormuz. How should its impact on Türkiye be assessed? And you just mentioned that even if you have money, you cannot access it; I have lived in Lebanon for many years. I still live there. Three years ago there was a major crisis. Finding fuel was impossible. People would queue at gas stations at 5 a.m., and we would hear gunfire, and they could only get 20 liters—and there are very large cars there because it is cheaper. 20 liters is really nothing; it will not last a few days. Since the state could not supply electricity there either, there would be times when electricity did not come for three days. Everyone uses generators, and at the same time people could not find generator fuel, and it was truly a hellish three or four months. In Türkiye, even though we complain about prices right now, its availability really gives a lot of confidence. As someone who has listened to this from lived experience, I really feel safe in Türkiye on that matter.
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar: Let me open a very brief parenthesis on the European Union here. Especially right now, I think one of the biggest losers of all these recent developments, both economically and politically, is the European Union. Energy supply security also means economic security and competitiveness. In this sense, look, again, something may come up with Türkiye; it may take a meaningless political position at any moment, with the whole thing involving Greece and the Greek Cypriot administration of Southern Cyprus. Now, for Europe's supply security, Europe is following our production in the Black Sea very closely. Because as of October 1, 2027, Russian natural gas will no longer come within the European Union's borders—pipeline gas. As of January 1, 2027, LNG will no longer come. Europe will continue to consume gas; it needs gas. On the LNG side, for example, Qatar was supplying gas to Europe; now that has fallen to zero. When you look at it from this perspective, they are now so closely interested in the gas production here that they say, “Wherever you buy gas from, export the Black Sea gas—the gas from the Sakarya Gas Field—to Europe.” That is why our work here is important. It is important for Türkiye to increase its gas supply in this sense. Again, a very deep issue. I hope that leadership will be demonstrated in the European Union that goes beyond this ideological approach and is truly more pragmatic and able to grasp what partnership with Türkiye means for Europe's own security and for its security in every sense.
RELATIONS WITH AZERBAIJAN Journalist: Mr. Minister, in recent days you must be seeing reflections on Türkiye-Azerbaijan relations in the digital media and social media agenda. Is there any tension in these relations? Is there any external interference in these relations? And will there be a positive or negative reflection on the energy side of these relations?
Journalist: Mr. Minister, let me add to what my colleague said. As you know, in 2029, our natural gas purchases will begin within the framework of an agreement we have with Azerbaijan.
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar: We have natural gas purchases; we have additional purchases.
Journalist: A n additional 33 billion .... In parallel with this, could there be a situation where this agreement is postponed or delayed?
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar: Let me start with the last part: such a thing cannot be the case. Azerbaijan and Türkiye have a very special relationship. We have very significant cooperation in many areas, especially energy. This is important both for Türkiye's supply security and for regional supply security through Türkiye. We spoke about Europe's energy supply security; thanks to the TANAP project, today 10–12 billion cubic meters of gas produced in the Caspian Sea goes all the way to Italy, to the middle of Europe, and is of great importance for their supply security. It is not possible to say that the recent developments are ordinary. Therefore, I think there are efforts to undermine this exemplary relationship. The Organization of Turkic States Summit will be held in Ankara on October 29–30. God willing, His Excellency President Ilham Aliyev will also come here. I believe that, together with our President, they will give the necessary message to everyone. Therefore, we need to act very cautiously and very intelligently here; we need to act very responsibly. With the understanding of “one nation, two states,” there is currently nothing negative reflected in our relations in energy. On the contrary, we are talking about making Turkish Petroleum a partner in new fields. Those additional gas flows of ours that will start in 2029 will, God willing, continue without interruption. We are talking about new electricity projects, the Green Energy Corridor in the COP context, and the electricity produced from renewable energy there going to Türkiye and, through Türkiye, to Europe.
Journalist: Energy diversification was mentioned. Indeed, Türkiye has come a long way at this stage. We are currently in the land of coal, referred to as black diamond. And before the 1980s, we had difficulty finding these, you know. What things are we talking about today. So at the point we have reached, especially as a country right in the middle of the energy wars in our region, not being caught up in the thought “will we live those days again?” gives us confidence. In this sense, what awaits us this coming winter, sir? Second, what stage are the works at the production facilities here at? In addition, Akkuyu means 2.5% for us—a very important figure for Türkiye. Do you plan for it to become operational?
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar: This coming winter will, God willing, be a winter in which we do not experience any problems in gas, electricity, or fuel.
ENERGY PRICES AND LIMITS Journalist: Is an increase expected in natural gas prices?
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar: Yes, at the moment we do not have such a plan. There is no price increase.
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar: What we have generally tried to implement regarding prices since 2023 was this, if you remember: to make a price adjustment once a year in line with expected inflation. And we were mostly doing this in April. That is, after coming out of winter. This year, too, that was our plan, and we did it in April for 2026. For 2027, our plan was to do something similar. Especially starting from March, we entered a period in which prices in the world increased at abnormal levels. We will manage this process as much as we can. Let me say that. Therefore, we will continue with the initial plan. What awaits us in winter? In electricity, 5,000 kilowatt-hours for 2025 and 4,000 kilowatt-hours for 2026. We will set a new limit for 2027. Those whose consumption is above this will be removed from this support. The format we started in 2025, in which those who consume a lot are removed from the support, will continue. In electricity, we will set a new figure this year, as the 2026 consumption figure. Let's say the citizen's consumption is currently above 4,000 kilowatt-hours; they live in a rural area, have a two-story house, their son lives on the lower floor, and they live on the upper floor. They have one meter, and more than 4,000 kilowatt-hours pass through that single meter, but in fact two families live there. They are not very well-off either. For those citizens, there is a mechanism to apply to the support program of our Ministry of Family and Social Services. If they are in need, it will be met through that mechanism.
We made a similar practice in natural gas in April 2026. There we have a somewhat different method. There we do the following: for example, when we get to November 2026 in Zonguldak, we will look at the average figures over the past 5 years. Let's say consumption is 100 cubic meters; we will remove from natural gas support in Zonguldak those citizens who exceed this 100 cubic meters at 175 cubic meters, that is, who consume more than 75% more. Don't worry, 220 dollars will not become 1,000 dollars; it will be at a lower price. In fact, in a sense, the support will continue, but the support will have decreased somewhat.
Let me say from the February 6, 2023 earthquakes to today, including the end of 2026: Turkey has spent approximately 105 billion dollars for the development of the earthquake-affected provinces, the construction of 450 thousand independent units, and the rebuilding of our cities. This is a very high figure, but let me give another figure: how much money did we spend on energy support from 2023 to the end of 2026? Approximately 55 billion dollars, 60 billion dollars. In other words, we have given energy support to our citizens worth almost half a Maraş earthquake. Within this figure there are businessmen, there are those who are well-off. Why should we pay 50% of their natural gas and electricity bills? We say let's give this to low-income citizens, those receiving the lowest pension, our fixed-income citizens, and even increase the support for them. That is why we made such a consumption-based arrangement in this support. That was what we did in 2025. This winter, this will continue.
For our production in the Sakarya Gas Field, God willing, we will hold another program in December. At the flame tower, we will light the fire from the Sakarya Gas Field. And at the beginning of 2027, God willing, this gas will become usable in our homes.
For Akkuyu, in the coming months, that is, before 2026 ends, we aim to carry out the fuel loading stage, which we call 'physical commissioning,' and, God willing, hold a ceremony. There are many tests to be done at Akkuyu. There, too, we cannot do this work by giving up any of them, because nuclear safety is the first priority there.
Journalist: Mr. Minister, if you permit, I would like to ask two very short questions. Prices are 1,000 dollars in the world and 220 dollars in our country, so there is approximately 80% state subsidy. Is there no state in the European Union countries that does this? For example, when we say Europe, Germany is a huge economy. Doesn't the state subsidize there? Second, there are mining wars in the world. This rare elements issue. How is Turkey's situation? I think there are some very important elements related to artificial intelligence in Turkey.
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar: The support issue is on Europe's agenda as well, and on the agenda of many countries in the world. Now they ask, 'You found this in Gabar, you did that in the Sakarya Gas Field, but how does it reflect on citizens?' The 55-60 billion dollar support from 2023 to 2026. This money came from the treasury. How does the treasury have this money? Here I produce a value of 10 million dollars a day, an additional 10 million dollars at the onshore facilities. The economic size of the approximately 7.5 billion cubic meters of production here means 7.5 billion dollars. The oil we produce in Gabar is approximately 3 billion dollars. So, right now Gabar plus the Black Sea amounts to an economic size of 10-10.5 billion dollars. Because this is so, the treasury sometimes gives these under the name of a support program. We have a Family and Youth Fund; we allocate some money from there to young people who are about to get married. The money the treasury needs is actually formed by the economic values produced here. In a sense, it indirectly reflects on citizens. Now everyone is waiting for this: 'We found oil in Gabar, let prices come to such and such a level.' America, the world's largest oil producer, today go there and the gallon price has passed 5 dollars, 6 dollars. From 1 dollar, 1.5 dollars to 6 dollars. For example, in America there is no subsidy in this sense. But in Europe, especially after 2021, that is, on the exit from the pandemic, Germany and other countries had energy supports. This is related to how much of a social state understanding and principle you have, but your treasury must be strong.
NATIONAL MINING 2040 Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar: The mining question is an important question. Indeed, energy wars and mining wars continue in the world. God willing, one of our goals is to be able to make 'National Mining 2040' like 'National Energy 2040.' We are planning that within 2027. The world is moving toward an artificial intelligence age. In this artificial intelligence age, there are two critical things that will move countries forward. The first is chip technology. If you don't have chips, there is nothing to do; too bad. The second is energy. Your energy infrastructure must be very strong; your electricity transmission lines, storage facilities, energy production facilities. In this transformation, mines, critical minerals, rare earth elements have become very important both for chip technology and for the energy field.
RARE EARTH ELEMENTS Journalist: Do these rare elements exist in Turkey?
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar: There is a large reserve of rare elements that we discovered in Eskişehir Beylikova. But there we face this difficulty. Rare earth elements, as the name suggests, are found rarely in the soil; they are within the soil, and there is also thorium, so to separate them or, in the literature's term, enrich and purify them, that is, to be able to go to 99.99% purity and make them much more value-added. You make a missile; for it to hit the target, tungsten is needed at its tip. As Turkey, we have a search for technology related to reaching that purity. We have currently reached 92% purity. The news in the laboratory environment is good. That purity has begun to rise to 99 percent and above, but we have not yet turned this into an industrial reality; God willing, we are working in that direction. For example, we are currently working with ASELSAN. Our defense industry companies have requests from us. By fulfilling those too, we aim to turn these into products in a value-added way in Turkey, not just as minerals.
MINING Journalist: Where is Turkey currently in nuclear energy? Another issue is a situation that is a subject of discussion in society; there are misunderstandings in many places regarding mining sites. As you know, citizens carry out various actions there because they say it is harmful to health. If you could clarify. Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar: There are misunderstandings, and there are wrong practices. Mining is one of the areas where Türkiye is still dependent on foreign sources. Unfortunately, Türkiye is still a net importer in this area as well. That is, we import 13-14 billion dollars' worth, excluding gold. Gold is already a completely different area, a savings tool for our nation. That is why we also have imports there. That is why we say Türkiye needs to increase its gold production. We need to have gold production of at least 100 tons. But there are misunderstandings, ideological oppositions, abuses, but also wrong practices. So all of these come together and then a mining sector that is vilified. Wrong practices: someone operates a quarry somewhere, then does not rehabilitate it, does not take occupational health and safety measures while doing so, and so on; these also need to be eliminated.
Foreigners are engaged in gold mining in Türkiye, and there are objections to that. Investment must definitely come to this country, both domestic and foreign. The practices carried out are world-standard practices. However this is produced in the world, it is the same in Türkiye, the same in Canada, the same in Australia, the same in America. Therefore, we are spreading these practices in Türkiye. We must value independence in mining at least as much as independence in energy. Because mining means thousands of jobs and employment on the one hand. Today, 150 thousand miner brothers work in Türkiye. Consider their families, and the additional elements around it—logistics and services; together with these, it is a sector that concerns millions of people.
The mineral extracted from there will be the main input of our industry. Is it possible to talk about industry and production without mining? If you do not have copper, you have no chance of transmitting electricity from one place to another; goodbye. Because as the world, we are heading toward a process of separation; everyone is, in a sense, seeking how to be self-sufficient. We also say that Türkiye needs to solve 3 areas. Food security, defense, and energy security. When we make these independent, by God's permission, Türkiye will not be brought to its knees. That is why we are progressing at Akkuyu. With Akkuyu, the second plant, the third plant, and small modular reactors, Türkiye will not miss the second era of nuclear.
IRAN Journalist: We had a 25-year natural gas agreement with Iran. Our agreement with Iran ended this year. Our agreement with Russia is ending this year.
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar: Who says it ended?
Journalist: So its term is expiring. Are there new long-term contract agreements regarding these? Also, regarding Russia in the second nuclear power plant…. After the meeting between Mr. President and Putin, they had made such a statement.
NUCLEAR ENERGY Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar: Türkiye is taking all measures so as not to cause a problem in supply security in natural gas. You can look at the agreements that way too. But regarding the second reactors; as you know, the Prime Minister of Canada is in Türkiye this week. Ten days later, at the beginning of November, our Mr. President is going to South Korea. So South Korea, Canada, and Russia; negotiations are currently ongoing with these three. Nothing has yet been signed and decided.
Journalist: After his meeting with Putin, Mr. President said, “we will continue with you for additional reactors.”
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar: Of course, if the conditions are suitable, we will continue with whoever offers this to us most suitably. So, of course, Russia has an advantage among these. It is already building one plant. It will use the synergy it brings. But as a result, nothing has been agreed yet.
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