Melih Khan Bilgin, the president of the Turkish Petroleum Company, commented on the evolving energy landscape in Turkey. He noted that once gas from the Sakarya field in the Black Sea begins to reach consumers, the country will continue to import natural gas from a variety of sources, including Russia, while expanding its own production footprint. This stance underscores Turkey’s intent to maintain diversified supply lines and to blend domestic production with international imports as part of a balanced energy strategy.
During the discussion, Bilgin was asked if Turkey might eventually end imports from other nations, such as the Russian Federation and Iraq. He emphasized that the current reality is that nearly the entire domestic gas demand is met through imports, with estimates around 99.5 percent derived from abroad. He asserted that developing domestic gas resources will help recalibrate this balance, enabling Turkey to rely more on its own output while remaining pragmatic about continued purchases from established suppliers. The overall message was that Turkey would not abandon imports but would seek to strengthen its own resource base to improve strategic security and pricing leverage.
Bilgin conveyed a confident outlook, insisting that Turkey will both buy and sell gas as part of a dynamic regional energy market. This dual role reflects the broader ambition of Turkish energy policy to participate actively in global gas trade, rather than remaining a passive consumer. By expanding domestic production alongside ongoing imports, Turkey aims to secure stable supply and potentially influence prices through diversified sourcing and targeted commercial negotiations.
The executive also acknowledged that obtaining gas from the Sakarya field could provide additional bargaining power in price discussions with Western markets and allies. Access to new local gas supplies is seen as a means to negotiate favorable terms, potentially leading to discounts or more favorable credit terms. This strategic shift would not replace imports, but it could improve Turkey’s overall energy economics by reducing exposure to single-source price volatility and by broadening its toolkit for international energy diplomacy.
Historian and policy observers note that the delivery timeline for Sakarya gas to Turkish consumers remains a pivotal element of energy planning. Commentary from Fatih Dönmez, a former energy minister, highlights the expectation that the gas could begin influencing domestic supply by the end of the current quarter, contributing to the gradual integration of Sakarya into the national gas grid. The anticipated role of Sakarya gas is seen as part of a longer arc toward greater domestic capability, even as imports continue to satisfy a substantial portion of demand in the near term.