- Turkey discovered a $30 bn 75 cm gas reserve in the Black Sea to reduce its reliance on energy imports.
- Drilling completed by state-owned TPAO using the Abdulhamid Han vessel without foreign partners.
- President Erdoğan vows complete energy independence, with gas volumes expected to support residential consumption.
Turkey has discovered a new natural gas reserve in the Black Sea, valued at $30 billion. The reserve holds an estimated 75 billion cubic metres of gas.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced the discovery on Sunday. He said the new find will reduce Turkey’s dependence on energy imports, support energy security, and ease pressure on the current account.
TPAO, the national oil company, drilled the Göktepe-3 well using the Abdulhamid Han vessel. The operation started on March 27 and ended on May 16.
The Abdulhamid Han, a seventh-generation deepwater drilling ship, reached depths of 12,200 metres. Turkey added this ship as the fourth unit in its national fleet. Turkish engineers and institutions led the exploration without foreign involvement.
The government fully funded the project through public investment. President Erdoğan said this discovery marks another step toward complete energy independence. “We will not stop or slow down until we achieve our goal,” he said.
Turkey relies on natural gas imports from Russia, Iran, and Azerbaijan. 2023 the country spent more than $50 billion on energy imports.
Erdoğan’s administration aims to cut these costs by boosting domestic energy production. Authorities plan to channel the new gas volumes primarily toward residential use.
The Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources continues preparations for production. However, it has not given a specific timeline.
2020 Turkey discovered the Sakarya gas field in the same Black Sea region. TPAO estimated the field to hold 540 billion cubic metres of gas.
By 2023, Turkey had begun delivering gas from Sakarya to homes. The project marked a significant shift in national energy policy. Officials now expect Göktepe-3 to expand this progress.
President Erdoğan reaffirmed Turkey’s commitment to local energy development. “We will move forward without heeding criticism or obstacles,” he said.
Economists say this discovery could narrow Turkey’s trade deficit and attract more interest in the country’s energy market.
So far, the government has not announced any international partnerships for Göktepe-3. Authorities continue to rely on domestic capacity for development.
Energy analysts believe the reserve’s scale will support larger public investments. They also need to strengthen Turkey’s position in regional energy politics.
The Abdulhamid Han plays a critical role in these efforts. Since its launch in 2022, the ship has led many of Turkey’s offshore drilling operations.
Officials plan to increase investments in both fossil and renewable resources. While Turkey continues to promote solar and wind energy, gas remains essential to the national mix.
The government views the Black Sea reserve as a long-term asset. Leaders believe it will help shape the future of Turkey’s energy economy.