T眉rkiye aims to become an energy trade hub by leveraging its renewable resources, nuclear power plants, strong transmission and distribution infrastructure, and high interconnection capacity with neighboring countries, Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said on Friday.
鈥淎t the Istanbul Finance Center, we aim for a T眉rkiye that is a central country in energy with a trade exchange where electricity, natural gas and commodities are traded,鈥� said Bayraktar addressing the 陌stanbul Natural Resources Summit in Istanbul.
鈥淢ines are also of great importance in achieving this goal,鈥� as recent global pandemics, climate change and geopolitical crises necessitate a new approach and perspective in this field, Bayraktar added.
Bayraktar explained that for maximizing T眉rkiye鈥檚 renewable potential, efforts are underway to boost solar and wind capacity to 120,000 megawatts by 2035, launch offshore wind projects, and advance unconventional oil and gas production, particularly in the country鈥檚 eastern Diyarbakir and northwestern Thrace region, through rapid on-the-ground implementation.
Noting T眉rkiye鈥檚 vision of 鈥淧eople First, Environment Second and Value-Added Mining,鈥� Bayraktar said the country is prioritizing value-added production in key areas such as boron and ramping up domestic gold output to curb imports.
鈥淎s in oil and natural gas, we aim to produce minerals not only in our country but also abroad,鈥� the Turkish minister added.
鈥淲e will hopefully realize our first production from the gold fields we have a license for in Niger within a year,鈥� he noted.
- New partnerships, new projects
Bayraktar also added that T眉rkiye aims to become an important supplier in the field of Rare Earth Elements, which have become one of the most critical building blocks of the world economy and technological transformation.
Noting that T眉rkiye is also developing collaborations with other countries, Bayraktar said: 鈥淚n addition to our existing projects in Azerbaijan, Iraq and Russia, we are preparing for new partnerships with new projects.鈥�
鈥淲e are conducting an active energy diplomacy in Libya, Iraq, Pakistan and the Caspian region,鈥� he added.
Earlier in the day, Bayraktar moderated a session titled 鈥淢ining in Energy Transition: Ministerial Dialogue on Resource Security,鈥� joined by Libya鈥檚 Industry and Minerals Minister Ahmed Ali Abu Hissa, Somalia鈥檚 Petroleum and Mineral Resources Minister Dahir Shire Mohamed, Saudi Arabia鈥檚 Deputy Minister of Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources Khalid Al Mudaifer, Niger鈥檚 Mines Minister Ousmane Abarchi, Hungary鈥檚 Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Boglarka Illes.
The daylong summit, held under the motto "Securing Resources, Rebuilding the Future," brings together policymakers, industry leaders, financiers and innovators to discuss global and regional energy dynamics, critical minerals, hydrocarbons, and investment strategies amid the energy transition.
By Handan Kazanci
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr