Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar announced at the 16th Turkey Energy Summit in Istanbul that the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) is approaching a pivotal milestone. "We are targeting the physical start-up of Akkuyu by loading the first nuclear fuel within the next few weeks. Starting from 2027, we will be using Akkuyu's electricity in our grid," he stated.
Bayraktar noted that an intensive testing phase is under way at the facility, stressing that all international nuclear safety conventions to which Turkey is a party are being strictly observed, leaving nothing to chance. He underlined that nuclear energy is indispensable for Turkey's ambitions: "If Turkey is to fight climate change and electrify every sector of its economy — from buildings to agriculture to transportation — we must have nuclear energy."
Turning to Turkey's broader energy strategy, Bayraktar said the country had weathered supply disruptions and a major oil crisis since February without experiencing shortages, crediting the TurkStream natural gas pipeline as a key stabilising factor. He recalled that the Thrace region, including Istanbul, had previously received gas via Ukraine, Moldova, Romania and Bulgaria, but has been supplied directly through TurkStream since 2020.
On petroleum production, he said the Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) currently produces 300,000 barrels of oil and gas per day, with a target of 550,000–600,000 barrels by 2028 and an ultimate goal of one million barrels per day. He hinted that new acquisitions and partnerships could be announced before year-end.
Bayraktar also revealed that Turkey's National Energy Plan — the "National Energy 2040 Vision" — will be unveiled at Dolmabahçe Palace on 5 November, placing electrification at its core. At the upcoming COP31 climate conference in Antalya, Turkey plans to push a global electrification target of 35 percent by 2035 as a key deliverable, under the motto of moving "from talk to action."
