Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said Türkiye’s energy partnership with Libya is set to deliver concrete results in 2026, describing the coming year as a “landmark” period that will lift bilateral trade and accelerate joint hydrocarbon projects.
“I can say that 2026 will be a landmark year in Türkiye-Libya cooperation... It will be the energy year, and trade volume will reach much higher levels,” Bayraktar told Anadolu in an interview on the sidelines of the Libya Energy and Economy Summit (LEES) in Tripoli.
The minister’s remarks came after he attended the 22nd meeting of the Türkiye-Libya Joint Economic Commission, where the two sides signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to expand cooperation between public companies in the petroleum and petroleum product trade, and agreed to deepen collaboration in renewable energy and mining.
Bayraktar underscored that the Joint Economic Commission convened for the first time in nearly 17 years, calling the commission a comprehensive mechanism spanning all sectors of the economy.
“It covers everything from transport to health, education and trade, not just energy,” he said. “Reviving it was important. It was a historic day, and we signed the framework text.”
He said bilateral trade reached about $4.4 billion in 2025 and is expected to exceed $5 billion in 2026, adding that energy would be placed “at the center” of efforts to meet the higher targets set by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
“We have been negotiating with Libya for a long time,” Bayraktar said. “We are working on this cooperation through many channels.”
Detailing ongoing work, he said Türkiye’s state oil company, Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO), is advancing projects in areas where it previously operated and is negotiating agreements for new fields.
Türkiye will also pursue partnerships with international oil and gas companies active in Libya, he said, adding that “we will start to see tangible results in 2026.”
- February tenders
Bayraktar said Türkiye plans to take part in Libya’s first oil and gas licensing round in about 17 years, scheduled for February.
“Together with international firms, we are closely interested in two fields, one offshore and one onshore,” he said.
If TPAO secures a stake, “we will move very quickly,” he added, pointing to Türkiye’s recent offshore experience and fleet capacity in seismic surveys and drilling.
Referring to a MoU signed last June between TPAO and Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC), Bayraktar said Türkiye could begin seismic work in Libyan offshore areas in 2026.
Referring to Türkiye’s hydrocarbon exploration and production activities in Somalia, where seismic surveys were completed before drilling commenced, Bayraktar said that if a deal is reached after seismic work in Libya, “we will move to the drilling stage.”
- Overseas push
Bayraktar also said Türkiye is deepening international partnerships, including an agreement with US-based Chevron expected to be signed in Istanbul on Feb. 5, and will continue pursuing global deals.
Bayraktar concluded his speech by pointing to Türkiye’s renewed push abroad, which he described as “a new growth strategy”.
“We are exploring opportunities either through partnerships or independently under TPAO’s own operatorship. In this context, we have already concluded some agreements. We have obtained licenses for three offshore blocks and two onshore blocks in Pakistan. There are projects in Libya that we are working to finalize. Two days ago, we met in Türkiye with Kazakhstan’s KazMunayGas, where we are also engaged in intensive work on three fields. Hopefully, we will finalize these processes, sign the agreements within this year, and begin operations.”
By Sibel Morrow and Firdevs Yuksel in Tripoli
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr