By 2028, Türkiye plans to power 20 million homes with its own natural gas, as part of a larger push for energy self-sufficiency, says Energy Minister Bayraktar.
 |
| Turkiye's Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar. Image/ Illustration: ChicHue |
Ankara, Turkiye - January 12, 2025:
Türkiye's Energy and Natural Resources Minister, Alparslan Bayraktar, announced on Saturday that the country aims to deliver domestically produced natural gas to all households by 2028, marking a significant step towards energy independence.
Bayraktar, speaking from the central province of Sivas, emphasized that the country's domestic production is steadily increasing, and by 2028, 20 million households will be using Türkiye's own natural gas. Currently, 85% of the population has access to natural gas, and the goal is to extend this coverage nationwide.
The minister highlighted Türkiye's national energy and mining strategy, established in 2016, which prioritizes self-sufficiency in energy production. He also referenced Türkiye's record-breaking discovery in 2020 of the Sakarya Gas Field, the largest natural gas find in the country's history. Bayraktar further detailed the technical challenges of extracting gas from depths of up to 2 kilometers under the sea, transported over 170 kilometers to land.
At present, Türkiye is supplying natural gas to 3 million households, with plans to increase this figure significantly in the coming years. In addition to natural gas, Bayraktar noted Türkiye's success in producing high-quality oil in regions previously linked to terrorism, such as Şırnak’s Gabar, where production now exceeds 71,000 barrels per day.
The minister reiterated that the overarching goal is to achieve energy independence and reduce the reliance on foreign energy sources, keeping energy-related foreign currency spending within the country.