Türkiye will continue to invest in the energy sector to meet increasing demand and to achieve sustainable, reliable, and cost-effective energy prices, Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said Thursday.
The country's electricity demand is expected to triple by 2050, driven by factors such as electric vehicles, AI data centers, and cooling needs, Bayraktar said at the 14th St. Petersburg International Gas Forum.
"We have a big potential in solar, wind, geothermal, and biomass energy," he said.
The country aims to quadruple its solar and wind capacity to at least 120 gigawatts by 2035 while fully utilizing its renewable resources and investing heavily in nuclear power generation, he added.
In order to meet growing energy demand Türkiye is building its first nuclear power plant.
"Türkiye, in cooperation with its Russian partners, is constructing four reactors at the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant," he said. "We are going to have 20 gigawatts of nuclear power generation by the year 2050."
The country also plans to build eight more reactors in Sinop and the Trakya region, along with small modular reactors.
- Türkiye aims to secure natural gas supply amid growing demand
The minister underlined that natural gas remains crucial for Türkiye's electricity generation, with the country currently operating 25 gigawatts of gas-fired capacity and planning further expansion.
"Most of our gas is imported through pipelines. We have a long-standing and reliable partnership with Russia's Gazprom, dating back to the 1980s. We also receive gas via pipelines from Iran and Azerbaijan. However, especially since 2016, we have seen a significant increase in LNG supplies, mainly from the US," Bayraktar said.
He noted that Türkiye has invested heavily in regasification infrastructure, increasing capacity nearly fivefold since 2016.
"Around one-quarter, and in some years up to one-third, of Türkiye's gas imports come in the form of LNG," he said.
"Our main objective is to ensure Türkiye's gas supply security, as gas is used in households, industry, and power generation, all of which are experiencing growing demand," he added.
Türkiye aims to secure gas for its domestic needs as well as contribute to regional energy security, particularly in Southeast Europe, allowing neighboring countries to access Turkish infrastructure to ensure their own energy needs, Bayraktar said.
By Basak Erkalan
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr
