Turkey will aim to grow its oil and gas industry

Significance

The discoveries of a new oil field in the country’s south-east and a gas field in the Black Sea have boosted domestic production, although self-sufficiency is still a remote prospect.

Impacts

• Reducing dependence on Russian gas will make Ankara less vulnerable to political pressure from Moscow.
• Turkey will continue talks with Turkmenistan over gas import swaps via Iran.
• Ankara could secure exploration rights in Niger.
• Turkish research vessels may deprioritise areas of the Mediterranean in the near term, lowering the risk of renewed stand-offs.