A ‘Mineral’ Boost for the Türkiye-Germany Energy Partnership

Alparslan Bayraktar, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, stated, “The Turkish-German Energy Partnership will now become the ‘Turkish-German Energy and Minerals Partnership.’ “This is not merely a name change; it is a conscious, strategic, and visionary expansion of our shared goals. For when we speak of energy security today, we must discuss not only electrons and molecules but also the critical minerals and rare earth elements that form the foundation of the technologies producing that energy,” he said.

The 7th Turkish-German Energy Forum was held at the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, hosted by Minister Bayraktar. German Minister of Economy and Energy Katherina Reiche also participated in the forum’s opening ceremony. 

Bilateral Meeting Prior to the Forum

Before the opening ceremony, Ministers Bayraktar and Reiche met to discuss expanding energy cooperation between the two countries.

It Began 15 Years Ago

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Minister Bayraktar noted that this energy cooperation mechanism, which began 15 years ago, has evolved beyond being merely a technical platform. “I believe that the bridge we have built together plays a very important role not only in the energy sector but also in strengthening the deep-rooted friendship between Türkiye and Germany and bringing the two countries closer together,” he said. 

Partnership for Energy Security

Pointing out that geopolitical tensions, regional conflicts, disruptions in supply chains, and market fluctuations are testing countries’ resilience in the energy sector with each passing day, Minister Bayraktar said, “Our decision to set the theme of this year’s forum as ‘Partnership for Energy Security’ is precisely a result of this understanding. After all, energy security is no longer something any single country can achieve on its own,” he said.

Renewable Energy and Efficiency

Minister Bayraktar emphasized that Türkiye’s priorities in this challenging equation are to “strengthen energy security,” “reduce dependence on foreign sources,” and “achieve the 2053 Net Zero target.” Noting that renewable energy accounts for approximately 65 percent of Türkiye’s total installed capacity—making Türkiye the 5th largest country in Europe and the 11th largest in the world in terms of renewable energy capacity—Minister Bayraktar stated, “By the end of this year, solar energy will become the largest single source in our installed capacity. “But we are not stopping there; we aim to build a new energy architecture centered on electrification—one that is more flexible, more digital, and more resilient than ever before,” he said. Noting that they have placed energy efficiency at the very center of their strategy, Minister Bayraktar stated that they project investments exceeding $20 billion in this area by 2030, adding, “Renewable energy and energy efficiency are areas of cooperation with enormous potential where Türkiye and Germany can make rapid progress together.”

Contributing to Europe’s Energy Supply Security

Minister Bayraktar noted that while focusing on renewable energy, they are striving to establish a diversified natural gas supply portfolio to ensure supply security, adding that to this end, they have invested in pipelines, underground storage facilities, large-scale floating liquefaction plants in particular, and numerous interconnection projects with neighboring countries. Minister Bayraktar said, “Thanks to our strategic location between East and West and the comprehensive infrastructure we have built, Türkiye is not only meeting its own needs but is also making critical contributions to Europe’s energy security through route and supply diversification. We do not view this as a role we have undertaken alone; rather, we see it as a necessity arising from the long-term energy cooperation we have developed with our partners and neighbors.”

Energy and Minerals Partnership

Emphasizing that they were witnessing an important milestone in the long-standing cooperation between the two countries, Minister Bayraktar added: “With the protocol we are about to sign, the Turkish-German Energy Partnership will now become the ‘Turkish-German Energy and Minerals Partnership.’ This is not merely a name change; it is a conscious, strategic, and visionary expansion of our shared goals. For when we speak of energy security today, we must discuss not only electrons and molecules but also the critical minerals and rare earth elements that form the foundation of the technologies producing that energy. From wind turbines to solar panels, and from batteries to grid equipment, every link in the energy conversion chain depends on these strategic resources. Ensuring that supply chains are not confined to a single source is just as vital as diversifying energy sources. With both its rich mineral potential and its commitment to developing processing capacity in this field, Türkiye is ready to be a reliable and strong partner in this equation. In this regard, we welcome the initial institutional contacts initiated in the field of critical raw materials. I would also like to emphasize that we must build a more institutionalized cooperation mechanism on this strong foundation, bringing together our research institutions, public agencies, and industry in the coming period.”

Invitation to German Investors

Minister Bayraktar, noting that investments in renewable energy, grid modernization, energy storage, digitalization, and AI-based energy solutions will remain priorities, stated, “In this context, we would be delighted to see German investors participating in our YEKA tenders and offshore wind energy projects. Of course, a transformation of this scale—for which we project an investment need of over 80 billion dollars by 2035—depends on strong and sustainable financing. In this regard, we attach great importance to our cooperation with German financial institutions. We aim to jointly create a favorable financing environment that mobilizes both public and private capital,” he stated.

A Safer Energy Future

Minister Bayraktar said, “I believe that the agreements signed today and the new partnerships to be launched will strengthen not only our economies but also the stability and prosperity of our region. I wholeheartedly believe that, together, Türkiye and Germany can build a cleaner and safer energy future.”

Highlighting the Importance of Critical Minerals

German Minister of Economy and Energy Katherina Reiche also noted in her speech that Türkiye will host the NATO and COP31 summits, adding that 10 percent of her country’s energy comes through Türkiye. Noting that Türkiye’s strategic location ensures supply security for both itself and Europe, German Minister Reiche emphasized that Türkiye is not merely a transit country but also produces natural gas in the Black Sea. Reiche mentioned that they had added the topic of minerals to the forum’s agenda, highlighting the need for critical minerals to support digitalization, green, and sustainable technologies. Emphasizing that those who possess critical minerals will shape the future, Minister Reiche indicated that they intend to focus on green hydrogen at the next forum. 

New Format for the Forum

Following the meeting, the two ministers signed the Protocol of the 7th Turkish-German Energy Partnership Forum. Under the signed protocol, considering the growing strategic importance of critical minerals and raw materials, the name of the “Turkish-German Energy Partnership” was changed to “Turkish-German Energy and Minerals Partnership,” and the name of the “Turkish-German Energy Forum” was changed to “Turkish-German Energy and Minerals Forum.” 

Meeting with Energy Companies

On the side-lines of the forum, a high-level roundtable meeting was also held under the co-chairmanship of Ministers Bayraktar and Reiche, with the participation of CEOs from energy companies. 

3 Memoranda of Understanding

Within the framework of the forum, three separate memoranda of understanding regarding cooperation activities were also signed between certain Turkish and German companies. 

Domestic Components 

The German company ENERCON Global GmbH and ATEŞ Wind Power have signed a memorandum of understanding in the field of renewable energy, primarily wind energy. The agreement aims to enable the local production of various wind turbine components in Türkiye. 

Decarbonization in Industry

The German firm Pure Energy GmbH and OYAK Cement Factories Inc. have reached an agreement to assess energy flexibility in industry and support decarbonization.

Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Bilişim Vadisi and the German BRYCK Startup Alliance GmbH have signed a memorandum of understanding in the field of entrepreneurship and innovation. Through the mutual exchange of startups, talent, and technologies, this memorandum of understanding—focused on energy and climate technologies—aims to strengthen the cross-border entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem between the two countries. 

3 Separate Panels

As part of the forum, panels were held under the titles “Energy Startup Showcase: Turkish-German Innovation Exchange,” “Strengthening Resilience: Collaboration for Stronger Energy Systems,” and “Energy Efficiency in Data Centers.”