Türkiye is set to embark on a technically demanding drilling operation for oil in the western Black Sea, as it intensifies efforts to bolster its domestic oil and natural gas reserves. According to Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar, the drilling process is anticipated to be complex and time-consuming. In a broader strategy, Türkiye aims to execute six exploration wells throughout the western, central, and eastern Black Sea by 2026.
Over recent years, Türkiye has significantly enhanced its offshore exploration capabilities, now boasting a fleet of six deep-water drilling vessels. Several of these vessels are actively engaged in exploration and development projects in the Black Sea. The country’s move to expand its exploration activities underscores its commitment to enhancing energy security by reducing reliance on imported energy sources.
In a related development, Türkiye plans to double its gas production from the Black Sea fields by the close of this year. Discoveries made since 2020 have pushed the estimated reserves in the Black Sea to approximately 785 billion cubic meters. Currently, the gas production stands at about 9.5 million cubic meters daily, which meets the natural gas requirements of around 4 million households. By 2028, the government envisions production levels reaching 16–17 billion cubic meters annually.
This expansion is integral to Türkiye’s broader strategy aimed at decreasing its dependency on foreign energy imports while simultaneously strengthening its domestic output. Moreover, the nation is not only expanding its LNG infrastructure and pipeline connections but also exploring new transit routes that could facilitate the transport of gas from the Middle East to European markets, thereby enhancing its role as a regional energy transit hub.