17.10.2026 15:03
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar said they could give the good news of a new discovery in the oil field in Gabar. Stating that natural gas production in the Black Sea is targeted to quadruple by 2028, Bayraktar also announced the goal of commissioning the first reactor of Akkuyu within a few months.
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar stated that Türkiye continues its oil and natural gas exploration activities and said they may soon announce good news of a new discovery from the oil production field in Gabar.
Bayraktar answered questions from an AA correspondent as part of Russian Energy Week held in the capital Moscow.
Despite successive crises in global energy markets, Bayraktar said that Türkiye has not experienced any problem in supply security and stated that the country is implementing policies aimed at diversifying its energy resources and supplier countries.
Bayraktar said, "Oil and natural gas exploration activities continue both at sea and on land. Oil production in Gabar is also an important part of these efforts."
Noting that work continues in Gabar, Bayraktar said, "Hopefully, we can soon give good news from Gabar."
"OUR NATURAL GAS PRODUCTION IN THE BLACK SEA WILL QUADRUPLE IN 2028"
Recalling that Türkiye started production from the Sakarya Gas Field in the Black Sea in 2023, Bayraktar said, "Our production in the Black Sea is rising to 7.5 billion cubic meters per year. This was zero; production began in 2023 and today, hopefully, it will double. In 2028, this will quadruple. On the one hand, Türkiye is searching for its own resources."
Drawing attention to the importance of diversification in energy supply security, Bayraktar explained that Türkiye aims to benefit from all of its renewable energy, nuclear energy, domestic coal, oil and natural gas resources.
Referring also to long-term liquefied natural gas (LNG) agreements with the US, Bayraktar said they were developing alternative supply options against potential problems in pipelines.
Bayraktar stated that Türkiye wants to use its energy infrastructure in a way that contributes to regional supply security, emphasizing that the full-capacity operation of the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP), Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan and Iraq-Türkiye oil pipelines would benefit both producer and consumer countries.
"RUSSIA-US DIESEL AGREEMENT IS ALSO IMPORTANT FOR US"
Evaluating cooperation with Russia in the field of energy, Bayraktar noted that Russia is an important supplier of oil, natural gas and petroleum products for Türkiye.
Pointing to the importance of the agreement between the US and Russia on diesel fuel supply, Bayraktar said, "The diesel agreement between Russia and America, their agreements on diesel supply, are also important. Because Türkiye is an important diesel supplier from Russia. Therefore, the opening of this area is important for our supply security."
Recalling that natural gas cooperation between Türkiye and Russia has completed its 40th year, Bayraktar noted that the first agreement was signed on February 14, 1986, and that Russia has supplied Türkiye with more than 600 billion cubic meters of natural gas to date.
Stating that Russia is a reliable supplier, Bayraktar said that in his talks with Gazprom they discussed new cooperation opportunities regarding natural gas infrastructure and regional supply security.
FIRST REACTOR AT AKKUYU TARGETED TO BE COMMISSIONED WITHIN A FEW MONTHS
Touching on cooperation with Russia in the field of nuclear energy as well, Bayraktar reported that electricity generation is approaching at the first reactor of the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant (NPP).
Bayraktar said, "Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant is the site of the world's largest nuclear construction site where four reactors are being built at the same time. There, we are now very close to electricity generation at the first reactor. Our goal is to commission this reactor within the next few months."
Bayraktar, who said they also discussed new nuclear power plant projects planned in Sinop and Thrace with Russian officials, emphasized that nuclear energy is indispensable to meet rising electricity demand.
Bayraktar noted that in Türkiye, population growth, economic growth and urbanization, as well as artificial intelligence, data centers, electric vehicles and cooling needs, increase electricity demand, and pointed to the importance of clean energy targets within the scope of the COP31 Climate Summit to be held in Antalya in November.
"ENERGY CONFERENCES HAVE NOW ALSO BECOME TARGETS"
Also evaluating developments in global energy markets, Bayraktar said that attacks during the 25th World Petroleum Congress he attended in Saudi Arabia revealed risks regarding energy security.
Pointing out that many participants could not come to the congress due to the attacks, Bayraktar said, "Not only has energy infrastructure become a target, now energy meetings and conferences have also become targets."
Drawing attention to the fact that the Russia-Ukraine conflict, developments in the Middle East, trade wars and disruptions in the supply chain affect energy markets, Bayraktar said, "The new normal is a situation in which there are constant conflicts in the world and shocks and crises follow one another."
Emphasizing that Türkiye continues its long-term energy policies against these risks, Bayraktar added that they wish for an end to the conflicts between Russia and Ukraine and between Iran and the US.