Turkey targets 2035 to end foreign energy dependence

Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar has set 2035 as the target year for Turkey to end its dependence on foreign energy sources. Speaking at the Bosphorus Diplomacy Forum, Bayraktar emphasized that achieving energy self-sufficiency is critical for both economic strength and geopolitical security.

During a panel titled ‘Global System Breaking Point: Energy Diplomacy,’ the Minister noted that Turkey paid approximately $100 billion for energy imports in 2022. He highlighted that while global crises, such as conflicts affecting the Strait of Hormuz, pose risks to energy supplies, Turkey's current reliance on such routes is limited to 10% of its oil, mitigating immediate disruptions.

To reach the 2035 goal, Turkey is pursuing several strategies, including increasing domestic production of oil and natural gas through the Sakarya Gas Field in the Black Sea and oil fields in Gabar. The government is also focusing on renewable energy, nuclear energy, and securing independence in critical and strategic minerals.