Türkiye's deepwater drillship, Abdulhamid Han, is set to begin operations in the Black Sea on Thursday, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar announced on Wednesday.
Speaking at Anadolu's Editor's Desk, Bayraktar said the drill is scheduled to start at 4 a.m. local time ( 0100 GMT) on Thursday.
The operation marks the latest step in Türkiye's efforts to strengthen domestic energy production and reduce dependence on foreign imports.
In April, the Fatih offshore drilling ship will begin drilling the Eflani-1 well in the Black Sea, and by the end of April, the Cagri Bey drilling vessel is expected to begin operations in Somalia, he added, reflecting ongoing efforts to explore new reserves and expand the country's energy portfolio.
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Bayraktar also outlined Türkiye's 2026 energy strategy, emphasizing that continuing oil exploration activities abroad is among the country's strategies.
Türkiye is strengthening its energy resilience via infrastructure and international partnerships, with 2026 set to bring a bigger overseas push to boost output and energy security.
"Türkiye's current oil production meets about 15% of the country's needs. Our 2026 strategy focuses on expanding activity abroad," he said.
Bayraktar noted ongoing exploration and production activities in Somalia, Libya and other regions, adding that Türkiye secured rights for two fields in Libya—one offshore and one onshore.
The country signed various oil and gas partnership agreements with Chevron, ExxonMobil, bp, Shell, Repsol and MOL Group this year.
Bayraktar added that collaboration plans with TotalEnergies is underway.
He stated that 2026 will mark a more active period abroad for Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO), with the aim of boosting production and enhancing energy supply security.
"We will exploit all available resources in our country and seas, while sourcing the remainder from other regions," he said.
Türkiye currently produces about 15,000 barrels per day in Iraq and around 20,000 barrels in Azerbaijan, contributing to its overall energy portfolio.
On natural gas security, Bayraktar emphasized importance of diversified supply routes. "Thanks to TurkStream, we now receive gas directly from the Black Sea, providing a significant safeguard against potential pipeline disruptions. Recent reports of interrupted gas flow from Iran underscore the importance of supply diversity. While no issue has arisen today, we continue to prepare for possible risks," he said.
By Ebru Sengul Cevrioglu and Humeyra Ayaz
Anadolu Agency
enerji@aa.com.tr
