Ankara, Riyadh to expand renewable energy cooperation to 5,000 MW

Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar announced Saturday that Türkiye and Saudi Arabia will expand their renewable energy cooperation with an additional 3,000-megawatt agreement, bringing the total planned capacity to 5,000 megawatts. "We will increase this to 5,000 megawatts with a 3,000-megawatt agreement on the sidelines of the UN Climate Conference in Antalya," Bayraktar said in a statement, recalling the existing 2,000-megawatt framework between the two nations.

Domestic capacity quadruples

Bayraktar outlined Türkiye's energy progress over the past quarter-century, stating that installed electricity capacity had quadrupled from 32,000 megawatts to 126,000 megawatts — now Europe's third-largest — while oil production tripled and mineral exports rose tenfold during the period. "We have a fundamental goal: to make Türkiye energy independent in the Century of Türkiye," he said, identifying this as the ultimate objective under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's leadership.

Black Sea gas, Gabar field drive supply

Domestic natural gas production in the Black Sea is set to double this year and quadruple by 2028, when Bayraktar said Türkiye will meet the needs of 17 million households with indigenous supplies. Crude output at the Gabar field in southeastern Türkiye has exceeded 83,000 barrels per day, while unconventional oil exploration in Diyarbakir could yield reserves two to three times larger than Gabar across a 7,200-square-kilometer potential area.

Regional transit routes gain traction

Addressing regional security concerns stemming from the Strait of Hormuz blockade, Bayraktar said the crisis could accelerate long-standing projects to diversify supply routes through Turkish territory, including potential corridors for Iraqi oil via Ceyhan and Qatari gas through Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Syria. "This crisis could open the door to such opportunities. Both Türkiye and the entire region, as well as global markets, could become more balanced and better prepared for future crises," he said, noting that the Oruc Reis seismic vessel will conduct exploration off Pakistan in September or October.