Istanbul, May 17, 2025 – The Europe Today: President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced the discovery of a new natural gas reserve of 75 billion cubic metres (bcm) in the Black Sea, further bolstering Türkiye’s efforts to secure energy independence and reduce reliance on foreign imports.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the Istanbul Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Training and Research Hospital on Saturday, President Erdoğan shared the milestone achievement: “We have discovered a new natural gas reserve of 75 billion cubic metres in the field. With this amount, we will be able to meet the residential demand alone for approximately 3.5 years.”
The discovery was made at the Göktepe-3 well in the Black Sea, where Türkiye’s seventh-generation drilling ship, Abdülhamid Han, began operations on March 27. President Erdoğan confirmed that the drilling was successfully completed as of Friday.
Reaffirming Türkiye’s strategic vision for energy self-sufficiency, the President stated, “We will continue on our path without stopping, without resting, and without paying heed to criticism or obstacles until we reach our goal of a fully energy-independent Türkiye.”
A Strategic Shift Towards Energy Independence
The newly discovered reserve adds to Türkiye’s recent energy successes. In previous years, the country announced the discovery of an estimated 710 bcm of natural gas in the Black Sea—one of the largest finds in its history. Currently, domestic production meets approximately 7–8% of the nation’s natural gas demand, with the new discovery expected to significantly enhance this ratio.
Türkiye has also intensified efforts to diversify its energy portfolio and strengthen its position as a regional energy hub. Earlier this month, the country concluded two major liquefied natural gas (LNG) agreements, demonstrating its proactive strategy to ensure long-term energy security.
The government continues to prioritize exploration, infrastructure development, and international energy partnerships in its roadmap toward full energy independence.
