Minister Alparslan Bayraktar met with students during the Gençlerle Baş Başa program broadcast on Vav TV, addressing questions on current developments and outlining Turkey’s progress in the energy and natural resources sector.
Turkey’s Approach to Regional Energy Tensions
Addressing the ongoing tension in the Hormuz Strait, Minister Bayraktar emphasized that the current crisis differs from the pandemic period, characterizing it as a global supply crisis. He noted, “We do not wish to see the world spiral into further difficulties. As Turkey, we are determined to navigate this process with strength, without allowing our country to become engulfed in turmoil.”
The Role of Domestic Oil Production
Bayraktar highlighted that around 8% of Turkey’s daily oil demand is currently met from the Gabar region. He stated, “The flow of oil from the Hormuz Strait has been significantly disrupted, with approximately 11 million barrels per day missing from the global market. Every barrel we produce with our national oil company is extremely valuable.”
Preparing for Evolving Energy Needs
Minister Bayraktar stressed the global competition for affordable energy and control over energy routes. He pointed out the increasing importance of critical minerals such as rare earth elements for future competitiveness. “Controlling the passage through Hormuz means controlling the world’s energy markets. In the era of artificial intelligence, those who possess energy and electricity will lead. We are preparing our country for this,” he added.
Data Refineries and Digital Transformation
The Minister underscored the growing significance of data centers in the era of artificial intelligence, noting that major investments are being made globally in this area. “Energy and artificial intelligence are deeply interconnected. For effective data centers, both chips and uninterrupted electricity are essential. Turkey has ambitious goals and projects in this field, attracting considerable domestic and international interest. Our ministry is focused on ensuring a reliable energy supply for these data refineries,” Bayraktar remarked.
Turkey’s Nuclear Energy Vision
Discussing Turkey’s objectives in nuclear energy, Minister Bayraktar provided updates on the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant and ongoing projects in Sinop and Thrace. He emphasized the advent of small modular reactors (SMRs) as a new phase in nuclear technology. “With this new era, Turkey aims to develop and own nuclear technologies, eventually becoming an exporter. We actively support domestic initiatives and aspire for Turkey to take a leading role in the second phase of nuclear advancements,” he commented.
Emphasis on Localisation
Minister Bayraktar reiterated the priority of reducing dependency on foreign sources in nuclear fuel and equipment. “We have made localisation a key agenda item. Over 50% of the equipment at Akkuyu is now produced domestically. Advancing local technology in oil and gas exploration remains one of our top goals,” he noted.
Encouraging Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In closing, Bayraktar advised young people to develop skills and expertise across various disciplines to meet future challenges.
For related photographs, click here.
Fotoğraf Galerisi
