Turkiye extends oil and gas search into Bulgaria, Libya, Iraq
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Hashim Sheikh
- . April 22, 2025
- . Update: April 22, 2025 4:18 pm
This oil and gas exploration set up in Bulgaria, Libya, and Iraq is perhaps a bold step in the appointment of more global players in energy, nor have the projects, in some aspects, been long anticipated. On Tuesday, Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar gave details of the plans from Giresun, thus emphasizing the mission of Turkey to lessen its energy import dependency.
A significant contract is expected soon, with the TPAO of Turkey working along with a foreign company in the oil exploration programs of Bulgaria’s Black Sea region. This works in line with Bulgaria’s recent energy agreements, one of which is with Shell.
But Turkey is not stopping only here. Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Turkmenistan, and Azerbaijan are also on the radar. TPAO has already signed offshore and onshore contracts for Somalia, with drilling likely to start later this year. In Libya, TPAO was recently invited to participate in an investor roadshow as the country opened its first exploration tender in 17 years.
On the front, Türkiye intends to increase domestic production. Oil output in the Gabar region has reached 80,000 barrels per day; the Sakarya Gas Field is producing 9.5 million cubic meters of gas daily, with second-phase development under way.
Arguing this point, Bayraktar added that Türkiye has emphasized increasing domestic production and has also concentrated on making cheaper and more reliable energy supplies with diversified LNG imports.