Recalling the cost of energy and mining imports to Turkey, which rises to nearly 55 billion USD annually, Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Berat Albayrak delivered a speech in Istanbul at a conference entitled “National Energy and Mining Policy”. The Minister stressed the strategic importance of access to nuclear energy in the civil sphere. “Before the end of the year, we will start the work of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant and move forward in the process.” The Sinop power plant is coming to an end with the launch of a first reactor In 2023, by 2030 we expect to operate our three nuclear power plants, “he said.
But Nuclear is small part of Turkey’s energy strategy. The Minister added that the steps taken in the field of Energy are aimed to meet the demand of Turkish businesses and households.
“The 21st century will be the century of natural gas,” the minister said, relying on expert reports to the effect that investment in the sector would be privileged, especially for liquefied gas. Turkey will intensify its research of gas and oil in the Mediterranean Sea and Black Sea by developing its own technology has insisted Albayrak.
“Negotiations are over,” he said, “in the last quarter of this year we will acquire our own ship to drill (oil and gas) and with our engineers, carry out research on behalf of Turkey.
Renewable energies are an important part of Turkey’s energy program, a call for tender has recently been launched for the construction of several wind farms with a total capacity of 1,000 megawatts. Major investments will be made in the solar field, the minister wanting to make his country a technological center for clean energy.
