Turkey unveils major energy projects for self-sufficiency
Nuclear power plant and large gas hub - these two projects are set to make Turkey an energy-independent country. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has just announced a newly discovered gas field, which is expected to meet household needs for about three and a half years.
"We have discovered a new natural gas reserve of 75 billion cubic meters in the Black Sea", announced President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday in Istanbul.
He argued that this quantity of natural gas would suffice for the needs of Turkish households for about three and a half years.
Erdogan's global plan
Erdogan spoke during the inauguration of a hospital in the country's largest metropolis. He criticised environmentalists and highlighted that Turkey would soon have a new nuclear power plant. This is part of a larger plan - Turkey aims to become completely energy independent.
He added that despite the opposition of the fifth column wearing the masks of environmentalists, they have brought their country into another league thanks to the Akkuyu nuclear power plant project.
We will continue on our path without stopping, without resting, and without paying heed to criticism or obstacles until we reach our goal of a fully energy-independent Turkey, Erdogan assured.
The construction of Turkey's first nuclear power plant began in 2018, and according to the latest government reports, the construction of the first reactor is 90% complete. It is expected to provide about 10% of the country's energy consumption. The project is managed by the Russian state corporation Rosatom. Russia remains its majority owner.
Erdogan is pursuing ambitious plans to build a large gas hub. Turkey already plays a significant role in the region. Through the two TurkStream export lines, it transports approximately 14 billion cubic metres of gas to Europe. The maximum capacity of this route is about 31 billion cubic metres. Ankara is also expanding its storage facilities and negotiating with Turkmenistan for new supplies that could flow through Turkey to Europe. It is also in talks with the USA regarding LNG supplies.
Erdogan thinks globally. However, to build a global gas distribution centre, he needs access to new deposits and connections with other important players in the global market.
