A recent discovery in southeastern Turkey points to a high-quality oil field with a production potential of about 100 thousand barrels per day in the Judy and Gabar regions. The announcement was linked to remarks made at a campaign rally in Karapınar, near Konya, home to the continent’s largest solar power facility.
Officials described the new field as having a high-grade texture, with oil located at roughly 2.6 kilometers below the surface and anticipated to be produced through hundreds of wells. The initial estimates suggest the reserves could meet about one-tenth of the nation’s daily oil consumption. The well in Gabar is planned to be named in honor of Aybüke Yalçın, a young music teacher who lost her life in the 2017 PKK attack in southeast Turkey. The hope is that Aybüke Yalçın-1 will surpass current country-wide production levels. [Source: Official statements on energy development]
Authorities emphasized a strategic goal of energy independence, focusing on safeguarding national wealth and reducing foreign energy purchases. The narrative highlighted investments in drilling vessels and the pursuit of natural gas exploration while noting progress at Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant, which currently supplies around 10% of national energy needs. The plan envisions additional nuclear blocks and the eventual construction of a second nuclear power plant, potentially near Sinop in the northern region. The overarching aim is to transform Turkey from an energy-dependent importer into an energy-exporting country. [Source: National energy strategy briefings]
In late April, Fatih Dönmez, the Energy Minister, teased forthcoming updates about new oil locations, while withholding precise locations and reserve estimates. This hinted at an expanding portfolio of potential sites in the near term. [Source: Ministry announcement]
As of 2022, oil accounted for about a quarter of Turkey’s energy mix. Domestic extraction represented only around 7% of consumption, roughly 3 million tons, underscoring a heavy reliance on imports for petroleum and related products. The surge in consumption since 2010 has particularly affected diesel use, with more than half of oil products directed toward transportation needs. Turkey also stands as a major consumer of LPG fuel. [Source: Energy sector overview]
By the end of 2021, estimates put Turkey’s proven oil reserves at approximately 600 million tons, with ongoing announcements of further discoveries. The country averages drilling of 100 to 200 wells annually as part of its exploration activity. In recent years, imports have hovered around 25–30 million tons of oil and petroleum products, with Russia and Iraq as primary suppliers. A noted shift occurred in 2022 amid Western sanctions on Russia, with a substantial increase in crude oil imports from Russia and a rise in re-exports of Russian oil and related products—figures that translated into significant potential earnings for the state through downstream activity. [Source: Energy market data and trade reports]
In this evolving energy landscape, the government stresses reduced dependence on external partners and a move toward strengthening domestic production capabilities. The overall objective is to secure more reliable energy supplies while expanding export opportunities, supported by ongoing projects in oil, natural gas, and nuclear power. [Source: Government energy strategy documents]