Turkey discovers new natural gas reserve in Black Sea

Turkey has discovered a new natural gas reserve in the Black Sea that could meet the country’s residential energy needs for more than three years, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced Saturday.

Speaking in Ankara, Erdogan said the newly discovered reserve contains approximately 75 billion cubic meters (2,650 billion cubic feet) of natural gas, with an estimated market value of $30 billion.

"With this amount, we will meet the needs of our homes alone for about 3.5 years," Erdogan said, adding that the discovery underscores Turkey's commitment to achieving energy independence.

The reserve was found in the Goktepe-3 well, where drilling operations began on March 27 using the Abdulhamid Han, a seventh-generation deepwater drilling ship. Erdogan said the work was completed on Friday.

Despite ongoing exploration efforts, Turkey remains heavily reliant on energy imports to meet national demand. The president emphasized that energy security remains a top strategic priority for his government.

"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 Turkey," Erdogan said.

The discovery adds to a series of Black Sea finds in recent years as Ankara seeks to reduce its dependency on foreign energy suppliers, particularly amid global price volatility and geopolitical tensions.