News & Analysis

/LONDON, December 29, 2025, 11:00 GMT, RENEWABLE MARKET WATCH™/

Following a year characterised by significant advancements in the energy sector, Türkiye is poised to build on this momentum in 2026. The country aims to boost domestic energy production, expand renewable energy capacity, and strengthen international collaboration. In its efforts to diversify the energy mix, Türkiye is actively working to decrease its heavy dependence on imported energy resources. This involves strategic investments in exploration both within its borders and in international markets, reflecting a commitment to fostering a more self-sufficient and sustainable energy future.

Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar says 2026 “will be the year we open a new era in oil and natural gas exploration.”

Black Sea Gas Output Plans

Three years after Türkiye began gas production from its extensive reserves in the Black Sea, daily output reached approximately 10 million cubic meters (mcm) by 2025, which is sufficient to supply around 4 million households. This milestone marks the successful completion of the first phase of the Sakarya gas field project. Production is anticipated to double in 2026 with the operation of Türkiye’s first floating gas production platform, Osman Gazi, scheduled to launch in the latter half of the year. The Sakarya field is estimated to contain around 710 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas, which was discovered gradually between 2020 and 2022. Once fully developed, this field is expected to fulfil about 30% of Türkiye’s annual gas demand.

In mid-May, Türkiye also revealed a significant additional discovery of 75 bcm of gas in the Black Sea. According to Bayraktar, a second, higher-capacity floating production platform is set to become operational in 2028. This development will enable Türkiye to complete the first three phases of the Sakarya project and address the gas needs of approximately 17 million households. Furthermore, employment in the project is projected to increase from 5,000 to 7,500 workers by March.
Offshore Fleet Development

In 2025, Türkiye enhanced its maritime energy capabilities by incorporating two new ultra-deepwater drilling ships, bringing its total fleet to six drillships and positioning it as the fourth-largest deep-sea energy fleet in the world. This broader energy fleet also consists of 11 support vessels, one construction ship, and one floating production platform. The newly introduced vessels, named Çağrı Bey and Yıldırım, arrived in the latter half of the previous year. Yıldırım is expected to join the existing fleet, which includes the Fatih, Yavuz, Kanuni, and Abdülhamid Han drillships, in the Black Sea within the next few months, according to Bayraktar.

Çağrı Bey is set to be deployed to Somali waters in February, marking Türkiye’s first deepwater exploration venture abroad. The operation will focus on offshore areas, although specific details regarding targeted reserves or investment amounts have not been disclosed.

In 2024, Türkiye formalized an energy exploration agreement with Somalia. With over 90% of its energy requirements reliant on imports, Türkiye is working to reduce its import costs and enhance supply security by developing domestic resources and fostering international partnerships. Earlier this year, Türkiye commenced gas imports from Turkmenistan for the first time, utilizing a swap arrangement through Iran, which supplements existing supplies from Russia, Azerbaijan, and Iran, as well as liquefied natural gas imports.

According to Bayraktar, Türkiye has plans to drill six new exploratory wells in the western, central, and eastern regions of the Black Sea.

Oil Production Plans

Türkiye is making significant advancements in its energy sector, particularly in the southeastern Gabar region, where oil extraction from a major reserve has seen remarkable progress. The output from this area has now exceeded an impressive 80,000 barrels per day, contributing to the country’s overall daily oil production, which has reached a total of 132,000 barrels.

Ongoing exploration efforts in the Gabar region are further bolstered by a dedicated workforce. Bayraktar, a key figure in this initiative, reports that more than 3,500 individuals are currently employed across over 100 active wells, showcasing the scale and commitment of operations in this area.

In addition to the current extraction activities, there are plans to initiate shale oil production in southeastern Diyarbakır within this year. This development is part of a broader strategy aimed at enhancing Türkiye’s energy capabilities.

“Our work will persist until we achieve energy independence for Türkiye,” Bayraktar emphasised, highlighting the determination and foresight that guide these efforts to secure a stable and self-sufficient energy future for the nation.

Nuclear Power Development Plans

This year marks the launch of Türkiye’s first nuclear power plant, known as Akkuyu. With a total investment of $20 billion (approximately TL 858.51 billion), this facility will comprise four reactors, delivering a combined capacity of 4.8 gigawatts. Constructed by the Russian conglomerate Rosatom, Akkuyu is located in the Mediterranean province of Mersin and is projected to provide around 10% of Türkiye’s total electricity once it becomes fully operational.

The Akkuyu project has encountered several challenges, including pandemic-related delays, issues with the delivery of essential components due to Siemens’ inability to fulfill contracts, and financial difficulties stemming from frozen Russian assets abroad. Additionally, Türkiye is actively engaging in discussions with South Korea, China, Russia, and the United States regarding potential nuclear projects in the Sinop province and the Thrace region.

Looking ahead, Türkiye aims to achieve a nuclear capacity of 7.2 gigawatts by 2035 and increase this to 20 gigawatts by 2050. The country’s strategy includes not only conventional nuclear plants but also the integration of small modular reactors (SMRs) into its energy portfolio.

Renewables Expansion

Türkiye is actively advancing its renewable energy initiatives, planning new solar and wind tenders this year as part of its Renewable Energy Resource Zone (YEKA) auction mechanism. As of November, the total installed electricity capacity in the country reached 121,782 megawatts (MW), with renewable sources contributing 75,615 MW, which represents approximately 62% of the overall capacity.

In 2025, Türkiye successfully completed tenders for solar and wind projects, allocating 3,800 MW of capacity. This development is anticipated to generate an investment value of around $4 billion. The nation has set an ambitious target to increase its solar and wind capacity to 120,000 MW by 2035, requiring the addition of at least 2,000 MW each year to meet this goal.

Electricity consumption in Türkiye has tripled over the last two decades, and it is projected to increase even more rapidly in the coming years as the energy transition gains momentum. The YEKA scheme, introduced in 2016, was designed to streamline land allocation for investors, support the implementation of large-scale projects, and promote the domestic production of renewable energy technologies. To enhance investor interest, the government later introduced updates to the model, simplifying post-tender permitting processes and providing financial incentives, including exemptions from transmission fees.

For more information and answers to your questions about the renewable energy market in Türkiye, and related content, you may read here: Türkiye Solar Photovoltaic (PV) and Wind Power Market Outlooks 2025 – 2034

For a better understanding of the benefits of using our reports, you may read here: Benefit List – Reports of Renewable Market Watch – 2025

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