Sakarya gas field to cover 30% of Türkiye’s needs by 2030

The Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Alparslan Bayraktar, shared ambitious plans for the country’s energy future at the CERAWeek conference in Houston, Texas. He revealed the Sakarya gas field, a significant part of Türkiye’s energy strategy, is already producing about 7.5 million cubic meters of natural gas per day.

Bayraktar anticipated that by 2030, 30% of Türkiye’s gas consumption will be met by this domestic source.

Increasing domestic energy production

The energy demand is growing in Türkiye, driving a push for more investments in oil, natural gas, and electricity production. However, the country’s challenge remains with its current dependence on energy imports.

To tackle this, Türkiye’s policy is centered on reducing its reliance on foreign sources and strengthening energy security for its citizens by ensuring reliable and affordable energy.

With plans to enhance renewable energy usage and explore new technologies, such as small modular reactors (SMRs), Bayraktar highlighted Türkiye’s commitment to securing a greener energy future.

Sakarya gas field expansion plants

The Sakarya gas field, which currently produces 7.5 million cubic meters of gas daily, will see an increase to 9.5 million cubic meters by next month. By 2026, daily production is expected to rise to 20 million cubic meters, meeting around 15% of Türkiye’s domestic gas requirements.

Looking ahead to 2030, Sakarya is projected to provide 30% of Türkiye’s natural gas needs, significantly reducing the country’s dependence on imports.

Collaboration with the US on oil, gas exploration

Besides boosting domestic natural gas production, Bayraktar emphasized the importance of Türkiye’s new partnership with Continental Resources and TransAtlantic for unconventional oil and gas production.

The agreement marks a significant milestone in the Turkish energy sector, particularly in the Diyarbakir Basin. The collaboration will be the first of its kind between Türkiye and the United States in this sector, opening a new chapter in Türkiye’s oil and gas exploration efforts.

Expanding LNG and regional cooperation

Minister Bayraktar also touched on the importance of Türkiye’s investments in liquefied natural gas (LNG) infrastructure. These investments will enable Türkiye to export surplus natural gas to neighboring regions, with a particular focus on Southeast Europe.

Additionally, Türkiye is looking to strengthen energy ties with countries like Syria and Iraq, which are currently in need of natural gas.

Through Türkiye’s growing infrastructure, Bayraktar believed that Türkiye could become a key export and transport player in supplying gas to these countries.