The Goal: A New Energy Architecture

Minister Bayraktar attended the “Regulation and Competition Summit in Energy Markets” organized by EPDK and the Competition Authority in Antalya.

The Great Crisis

Noting that the world is experiencing one of the greatest energy crises, Minister Bayraktar said, “The closure of the Strait of Hormuz—the lifeblood of global oil and natural gas markets—and the subsequent fluctuations are keeping all countries on edge. We are facing what amounts to a great crisis in the energy sector.”

A Revolutionary Transformation

Minister Bayraktar noted that a profound transformation took place in 2002 with the liberalization of the energy market, and that the second phase of transformation began with the National Energy and Mining Policy in 2016, noting, “In this new era, we have made moves of a revolutionary nature to ensure our supply security through strategies focused on domestic resources, infrastructure investments, and diversification of source countries, routes, and forms.”

New Energy Architecture

Minister Bayraktar, indicating that they will revise long-term energy plans in the 10th year of the National Energy and Mining Policy, stated, “In this plan we are working on, we aim to build a new energy architecture. “With this new program, which we will share with the public in the coming months, we aim for a new energy market that is more resilient, more flexible, and centered on electrification and digitalization,” he said.

No Risk at Present

Minister Bayraktar noted that Türkiye’s dependence on the Strait of Hormuz for oil and natural gas is at its lowest level, stating, “From the perspective of supply security, there is currently no risk in Türkiye.” Recalling that they had switched to the Escalator System to prevent fluctuations linked to the crisis in the fuel markets, Bayraktar said, “As of today, we have reduced the Special Consumption Tax (ÖTV) on diesel to zero. We have lifted the potential economic burden of 600 billion lira that could have arisen by the end of the year from our citizens.”

Hub Country

Minister Bayraktar emphasized that this crisis could position Türkiye as a hub country through new energy partnerships and routes, stating, “For example, implementing the pipeline we’ve been discussing for years—one that would transport Turkmen natural gas through the Caspian Sea to Türkiye and from Türkiye to Europe. We must definitely make this happen.”

The Oil Pipeline Extending to Basra

Minister Bayraktar, noting that they have been discussing the extension of the Iraq-Türkiye Oil Pipeline to Basra for years, said, “A natural gas pipeline from Qatar to Türkiye is another project we consider important.” 

Cooperation in Electricity

Minister Bayraktar also highlighted their projects related to electricity transmission lines, stating, “With the Azerbaijan-Georgia-Türkiye-Bulgaria Green Electricity Transmission and Trade Agreement we signed in Baku, we will ensure that renewable energy produced in Azerbaijan reaches Europe. We are also working on an integrated electricity transmission line extending from Saudi Arabia to Türkiye, in coordination with regional countries.”

Infrastructure and Investments

Highlighting that Türkiye has become resilient to crises thanks to the importance it places on infrastructure and its investments in this sector, Minister Bayraktar noted that they have increased gasification capacity to 161 million cubic meters and have begun sourcing more competitive natural gas from North America through the agreements they have signed.

Storage Facilities 75% Full

Minister Bayraktar explained that they are working to increase the capacity of underground storage facilities, stating, “During this crisis, our storage facilities are currently 75% full. By 2028, Türkiye will have the capacity to store at least 20% of the natural gas it consumes.”

The Rise of Solar Energy

Emphasizing the global trend toward electrification, Bayraktar noted, “Our installed electricity capacity has exceeded 125,000 megawatts as of the end of March. The combined installed capacity of solar and wind power has reached 41,517 megawatts, accounting for 33% of the total. Solar energy in Türkiye will surpass hydroelectric power within our total installed capacity by the end of 2026, making it the largest share this year.”

Support Will Continue

Minister Bayraktar noted that they are not yet at the desired level in electricity distribution and emphasized the need to maximize citizen satisfaction. Minister Bayraktar, who announced that they had provided 1.85 trillion lira in bill support to citizens for natural gas and electricity over the past three years, stated, “We have transitioned to a new system where those who consume less benefit from the support, while those who consume more are excluded from the support scope. Our support for bills will continue within these principles.”