ANKARA, May 7 (Xinhua) -- Türkiye is intensifying its efforts to cut its energy import bill and enhance energy security, announcing record-high oil production and setting ambitious targets for natural gas output, experts said.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said last week the country's oil production had reached a record level of over 135,000 barrels per day (bpd) by the end of March, while natural gas developments in the Black Sea could transform Türkiye into a regional energy hub.
When speaking at the Istanbul Natural Resources Summit, Erdogan emphasized that his country is aiming not only for self-sufficiency but also for a greater role in the global energy landscape.
Analysts said Türkiye is pursuing a comprehensive energy strategy that combines domestic resource development with international partnerships and infrastructure expansion to reduce oil and gas imports.
"Türkiye's energy outlook has shifted dramatically in the past five years," Ayse Demir, an analyst at Eurasia Energy in capital Ankara, told Xinhua.
"This is no longer about piecemeal projects. It's about a coordinated national push, from oil and gas to renewables and storage. The government sees energy as central to its geopolitical and economic standing," she said.
While oil production has increased significantly across various regions, natural gas is also undergoing transformative change.
The Sakarya gas field in the Black Sea, discovered in 2020, is already producing 7.5 million cubic meters of gas daily. The government aims to boost output to 20 million cubic meters by 2026 and reach 40 million by 2028.
A floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) facility is under construction and set to become operational by next year.
"Sakarya is a major component in Türkiye's energy ambitions," said Mehmet Kaya, an Istanbul-based independent energy consultant.
"It's not just about gas; it's about the experience Türkiye gains in offshore development, deepwater logistics, and managing complex supply chains," he told Xinhua.
Ankara's energy push is also bolstered by its growing network of international partnerships concluded in recent years with countries such as Senegal. These efforts are seen as part of Türkiye's broader strategy to diversify its energy sources and reduce reliance on Russian imports.
"Türkiye is trying to insulate itself from geopolitical risk in energy. Long-term LNG (Liquid Natural Gas) contracts, especially with non-Russian suppliers, help achieve that," Demir pointed out.
This analyst said that Türkiye's energy bill is still significant but is expected to decrease notably in the coming decade. In the first quarter of 2025, Türkiye's imported energy bill amounted to 18 billion U.S. dollars, according to official data released in early May.
Meanwhile, energy security is being reinforced by investments in storage. The Silivri gas storage facility near Istanbul, already the largest in Europe, is being expanded from 4.6 billion to 5.6 billion cubic meters.
The Lake Tuz underground storage site in central Türkiye is on track to reach a capacity of 8.8 billion cubic meters by 2028, to boost Türkiye's green and low-carbon transformation.
"These projects are crucial for winter supply management and market stability," Kaya said, adding "storage is the silent backbone of any sustainable energy system."
Ankara's nuclear energy ambitions are also making progress. The Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant, being built in partnership with Russia's Rosatom in southern Türkiye, is expected to start generating electricity from its first reactor in 2026.
Türkiye's energy strategy also extends beyond its borders as well. In late 2024, a Turkish seismic research vessel began offshore drilling off the coast of Somalia, following a bilateral energy cooperation agreement. Other explorations are planned in Libya and Senegal.
"Türkiye wants to be more than just a consumer, it wants to be a regional hub," Kaya added. Enditem
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