We Do Not Announce Results Without Seeing the Drilling

Minister Bayraktar answered the questions of Hürriyet Newspaper Ankara Representative Hande Fırat in the Night Vision program broadcast on CNN Türk.

On Somalia

Evaluating the claims that the Oruç Reis Seismic Research Ship, which conducted seismic research in Somalia, found oil, Minister Bayraktar said, “It is out of the question for us to make a statement saying ‘We found something in Somalia’ when the seismic studies have not yielded results and we have not received the result of the drilling. We did not make such a statement anyway. We do not announce a result before we see the drilling without doing the seismic study.”

We were there when the world left

Emphasizing that FETÖ accounts are spreading false news that Türkiye made a deal with Somalia with a colonialist mentality, Minister Bayraktar said: “Our President went there in 2011 when no one was there. We extended our helping hand to them when the whole world abandoned them. We continue to extend it.” 

30 Billion Dollar Trade

Explaining that there has been no flow from the Iraq-Türkiye Oil Pipeline for 19 months, Bayraktar said, “The information we received from Sudani and his team is that they still need some time. There is a dispute between the producing companies and Baghdad. The capacity of this line is 1 and a half million barrels. This means an annual oil trade of 30 billion dollars. The road to development can become the road to energy.”

Natural Gas to Syria

Upon a question about the natural gas pipeline between Kilis and Aleppo, Bayraktar said, “We will supply natural gas to Syria from Kilis within the next 3 months. This gas will be used in electricity generation at the natural gas power plant in Aleppo. Our lines had already reached Kilis. We are also finishing the work on the other side. We will provide a daily gas flow of 6 million cubic meters.”

Balanced Production Portfolio

Referring to the power outage in Europe, Minister Bayraktar said, “There was not a very balanced production portfolio in the system that was seen. There must be a balanced distribution in your production basket. When you say, 'Let it be only renewable,' you have a very serious difficulty in terms of operation. Our estimation is that such a large amount of renewable power in the system operation could not be managed. It seems to be a system operating error.”

There are New Fields

Minister Bayraktar stated that 81 thousand barrels of oil are produced daily in Gabar and said, “We are approaching the highest levels. There are new fields we are exploring in the north-western parts of Gabar. We have identified approximately 14 different regions. We are also conducting exploration activities in these areas.”

The journey to Filyos begins

Stating that they have completed the first phase of the Sakarya Gas Field with a daily production of 9 and a half million cubic meters, Bayraktar said, “We aim to increase it to 20 million cubic meters in the third quarter of 2026. We have a floating platform. It is being prepared in Çanakkale. On May 29th, the anniversary of the conquest of Istanbul, we plan to send her off to Filyos by passing her through the Bosphorus.”

Game Changer

Referring to the start of a new era in oil and natural gas production in Türkiye with a different production method called unconventional, Bayraktar said, “We have partnered for 4 fields in Diyarbakır. It means the production of oil and gas trapped in rocks through horizontal drilling and fracturing. The country that implements this best is the USA, and one of the best implementing companies is our partner. The goal is to realize the first drilling activity this year. If we succeed, it will be a game changer for Türkiye. This is a method that has made the US the largest producer of oil and natural gas.”

Gabar Invitation

Minister Bayraktar announced that he invited the Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye, Numan Kurtulmuş, and MPs to Gabar on May 19th and said, “We are saying, come and see the work being done on site. We are expecting our MPs to Gabar under the presidency of our Parliament Speaker. We want them to see Gabar, these are really national issues, the country needs to be united in these issues. That is why we expect them to come and see it.”