Istanbul, Turkey: President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday launched Turkey’s first delivery from a Black Sea gas reserve a few weeks ahead of a general election, as Ankara aims towards energy independence.
The ceremony comes as Erdogan braces for a tight race on May 14 in what is widely seen as the most consequential vote in Turkey’s modern history.
In 2020, the country discovered gas reserves off the coast of Zonguldak in the Black Sea region, which Erdogan hailed at the time as Turkey’s largest ever natural gas field and a way to wean the country off its dependence on energy imports.
In June, Turkey started the construction of an underwater pipeline connected to the seabed from the port of Filyos — around 400 kilometres (250 miles) east of Istanbul on the Black Sea coast.
The facility will begin producing 10 million cubic metres of gas daily in a first phase – which Erdogan said is expected to reach 40 million cubic metres daily after other wells go into operation.
Experts say 10 million cubic metres of gas per day would meet around six percent of Turkey’s annual consumption which stands at 60 billion cubic metres, delivering a boost for the economy.
“This is a historic milestone on Turkey’s path to energy independence,” a proud Erdogan told a ceremony in Zonguldak broadcast live on Turkish television.
“When we reach full capacity, we will meet 30 percent of our country’s gas needs” from the Black Sea reserves, he said.
Turkey received 40 percent of its gas from Russia last year. It also imports gas from Azerbaijan and Iran, and Ankara has been seeking ways to diversify supplies, especially after Russia launched its war on Ukraine last year.
Inflation in the country is running at 50.5 percent, and the currency is in freefall, making the cost of living hard to bear for most Turks.