02.12.2025 18:20
The Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Alparslan Bayraktar, announced that an oil and gas exploration and production agreement has been signed between Turkey and Pakistan in Pakistan's maritime and land territories.
The Turkish energy fleet, which carried out its first intercontinental mission by conducting seismic studies in Somalia with the Oruc Reis Research Vessel, is now changing its course from Africa to Asia. Five agreements have been signed with Pakistan, one of the largest countries in Asia, regarding crude oil and natural gas exploration and production. With the agreements signed in the presence of Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Turkish Petroleum will conduct exploration and production in five areas in Pakistan, three of which are offshore and two onshore, in partnership with Pakistani companies.
Alparslan Bayraktar, the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources in Pakistan, stated that seismic research vessels will be in Pakistan by 2026, saying, "We are extremely hopeful about the work here. Our goal is to start operations in these fields by 2026. We want to carry out these activities with some seismic and some direct drilling operations."
SEARCH AND PRODUCTION ABROAD
While Turkey is conducting efforts to increase oil and natural gas production in the Blue Homeland and its land territories, it is also carrying out exploration and production activities outside its borders. Following the seismic studies conducted by the Oruc Reis Research Vessel in Somalia, a new agreement news has come from Pakistan.
HIGH-LEVEL MEETINGS
Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar held meetings in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan. Minister Bayraktar met with Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif at the Prime Minister's Residence and also held individual meetings with Pakistan's Minister of Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik and the Minister of Energy responsible for Electricity, Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari.
5 AGREEMENTS SIGNED
As part of Minister Bayraktar's program, hydrocarbon exploration and production agreements were signed between Turkish Petroleum and Pakistani companies Mari Energies, Fatima, OGDCL, PPL, Prime, and GHPL in three offshore and two onshore areas in Pakistan.
JOINT EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION
According to the signed agreements, Turkish Petroleum will conduct crude oil and natural gas exploration and production in three blocks in Pakistan's maritime areas in partnership with Pakistani companies. Additionally, it will also engage in joint exploration and production activities in two blocks located in Pakistan's land areas with Pakistani companies.
STARTING IN 2026
In his evaluation of the signed agreements, Minister Bayraktar stated that Turkish Petroleum holds licenses in five fields through partnerships, saying, "Our seismic research vessels will be here by 2026. We are extremely hopeful about the work here. We will undertake an important project that has concrete results in terms of Turkey-Pakistan cooperation. Our goal is to start operations in these fields by 2026. We want to carry out these activities with some seismic and some direct drilling operations."
MINES ARE NEXT
Bayraktar expressed the desire to extend the existing cooperation between the two countries to the mining sector, stating, "Pakistan is an important country in terms of mineral diversity and richness. We will also undertake significant work in the mining sector through partnerships. We made our decisions regarding this today. Our national mining companies MTAIC and ETİ MADEN will be more active in Pakistan quickly."
JOINT PURCHASING OPTION
Bayraktar noted that they attach importance to the energy and mining sectors to reach the trade volume target of 5 billion dollars between the two countries, stating that both countries are significant energy importers in terms of both petroleum products and LNG. Indicating that joint work can be done in this regard, Bayraktar said, "In other words, we also have a project on our agenda regarding joint purchasing between Turkey and Pakistan and creating a synergy in this sense."
FOUNDATION LAID IN FEBRUARY
The foundation of these agreements signed in Islamabad was laid during President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's visit to Pakistan in February. During the visit, Minister Bayraktar, who accompanied President Erdoğan, signed the 'Protocol on the Amendment of the Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Hydrocarbons', the 'Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the Field of Energy Transition', and the 'Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the Field of Mining.'
MATURATED WITH THE VISIT TO PAKISTAN
Following these agreements, Minister Bayraktar made a visit to Pakistan in April. During the visit, Turkish Petroleum and Pakistan's national oil companies agreed to submit joint bids. Subsequently, the established partnerships submitted joint bids for the tenders issued for Pakistan's maritime and land areas.