Bayraktar stresses Türkiye-Russia energy cooperation amid global challenges

Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar, speaking at the main session of Russian Energy Week in Moscow, explained the importance of broad cooperation against the crises in global energy markets.

Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar assessed developments in energy markets, Türkiye's energy policies and energy cooperation with Russia at the main session of Russian Energy Week held in the Russian capital, Moscow.

Bayraktar said energy markets have faced numerous crises and shocks in recent years and that broad cooperation is important to overcome these challenges. He said Türkiye and Russia set an important example of the benefits energy cooperation can bring to both countries.

Noting that Türkiye's growing energy market provides demand security for Russia, Bayraktar said Russia also plays an important role in Türkiye's energy supply security. Bayraktar said crises in global energy markets have become the new normal for the energy sector and the world economy, stressing that providing countries with reliable and affordable energy is becoming increasingly difficult.

Türkiye's energy consumption and supply security

Bayraktar said Türkiye consumes on average 60 billion cubic meters of natural gas, 50 million tons of oil and petroleum products, and 40 million tons of coal a year. Noting that most of these resources are met through imports, he said energy policies focus on meeting rising demand and reducing import dependency.

Bayraktar said that, in this context, they have focused on diversifying energy sources and on infrastructure investments, adding that significant investments have been made in Türkiye's energy infrastructure. He noted that successful projects, above all the TurkStream natural gas pipeline, have been implemented with Russia.

Highlighting the importance of TurkStream for Türkiye's energy supply security, Bayraktar said natural gas was previously obtained via transit countries, whereas today it can be supplied directly from Russia across the Black Sea.

Bayraktar stressed that greater use should be made of the capacity of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan and Iraq-Türkiye oil pipelines. Noting that more natural gas and oil from Kazakhstan and Central Asia could be delivered to Türkiye and global markets through these lines, Bayraktar recalled that the Iraq-Türkiye Oil Pipeline has a transport capacity of 1.5 million barrels per day.

Bayraktar said this infrastructure does not only meet Türkiye's energy needs, adding that the lines could also contribute to the energy supply security of the Mediterranean basin. Referring to developments in the Strait of Hormuz, Bayraktar said the strait is currently not fully functioning and that it is unknown how long this situation will last.

Bayraktar said Türkiye can deliver additional oil volumes to neighboring countries and, via Türkiye, to global markets. Stating that this cooperation is especially important for the energy supply security of European markets, he said Türkiye, with its energy infrastructure, can play a greater role in resolving regional problems.

Nuclear energy target for 2050

Bayraktar said 19 percent of the increase in energy demand in Türkiye last year stemmed from cooling needs, adding that applications such as seawater desalination could create additional electricity demand in the future.

Stating that generation capacity and energy infrastructure must be strengthened to meet the growing need for electricity, Bayraktar said they aim to tap the potential of renewable energy sources and to use energy efficiently.

Bayraktar said nuclear energy will be one of the indispensable components of Türkiye's future energy mix, announcing that they aim to reach at least 20 gigawatts of nuclear power generation capacity by 2050.

Bayraktar said construction of four reactors at the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant is continuing with Russia's state nuclear energy corporation Rosatom, adding that they hope to begin generating electricity from the first unit within the next few months. Noting that they are also developing nuclear power plant projects in Sinop and Thrace, Bayraktar said Türkiye needs at least 12 large-scale conventional nuclear reactors.

Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev also said in a statement at Russian Energy Week that the physical start-up process at Akkuyu's first reactor is planned for the second half of December and that they are progressing on schedule. Likhachev said they expect the first controlled, self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction to take place before the end of the year. Noting that they have developed several options for the participation of Turkish investors in the project, Likhachev said the right to choose among these options belongs primarily to the Turkish government.

Bayraktar said small modular reactors are also part of Türkiye's nuclear energy plans and made a positive assessment of the future of these technologies. Saying that problems in energy markets have increased the importance of international cooperation, Bayraktar said Türkiye will continue to contribute to the energy supply security of neighboring countries, and especially of Europe, in addition to meeting its own energy needs.

Energy talks in Moscow

As part of his contacts in Moscow, Bayraktar met with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, Gazprom Chairman Alexey Miller and Novatek Chairman of the Board Leonid Mikhelson. The talks covered existing energy projects, nuclear energy, hydrocarbons, liquefied natural gas and new opportunities for cooperation.

Bayraktar said that in his meeting with Novak they assessed the progress of existing projects and also discussed new opportunities for cooperation in nuclear energy and hydrocarbons. He stressed that they are determined to develop the energy partnership with Russia on the basis of mutual trust, a long-term strategic vision and regional stability.

Bayraktar said that with Gazprom Chairman Miller they assessed cooperation in natural gas in all its dimensions and discussed new opportunities to take the partnership forward. In his meeting with Novatek Chairman of the Board Mikhelson, LNG cooperation opportunities, supply processes and developments in global energy markets were on the agenda.

Bayraktar said Türkiye will continue to take steps that will increase its energy diversity and strengthen its supply security.

Meeting with Turkish engineers studying in Russia

Bayraktar also met in Moscow with representatives of Turkish students pursuing master's degrees in nuclear engineering. The meeting addressed the energy sector, new modular reactor projects and Türkiye's goals of independence in energy.

Bayraktar said that of the 526 students sent to Russia so far, 322 have completed their education and started working at the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant. He said they plan for more students to study abroad in the coming period.

Bayraktar said the engineering, manufacturing and operating experience gained at Akkuyu will be transferred to the nuclear power plants planned in Sinop and Thrace, adding that trained human resources will play an important role in these projects.

Source: Anadolu Ajansı

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