Türkiye: Energy Minister plans diesel imports from US-Russia deal

Turkey wants to benefit from the controversial diesel agreement between the USA and Russia. The deal between the two countries is important for Turkey's energy security, Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar told the Turkish "Channel 7". Referring to the agreement, the minister said: "Through the discussions we are conducting, we will bring some of this diesel to Turkey." Bayraktar did not provide further details.

The agreement was sharply criticized by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, European politicians and some of Trump's Republican party colleagues.

Bayraktar also announced that Turkey wants to massively expand its domestic gas production. A second floating gas production platform is scheduled to be put into operation in the first quarter of 2028. This will increase the daily production volume in the Black Sea to 45 million cubic meters. “We will then use our own gas in three out of four households in Turkey,” said the minister.

On Saturday, Turkey sent its first floating production platform, the “Osman Gazi,” into the Black Sea. This move is expected to more than double daily production from the largest domestic gas field, Sakarya, from the current 9.5 million to 20 million cubic meters.

Turkey is one of the largest gas markets in Europe and has so far been almost entirely dependent on imports for its needs. Last year, the country consumed 59 billion cubic meters of gas, while domestic production was only 3.1 billion cubic meters. Bayraktar also said planned hydrocarbon exploration off the coast of Pakistan had been delayed by about six months due to the impact of the Iran war on the region.