Türkiye is set to conclude a new oil and gas exploration deal with Pakistan next week, while continuing to rely on Russia as a key natural gas supplier, Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said on Wednesday.
Bayraktar noted that he will visit Pakistan next week to formally complete the agreement.
“We will sign our agreement regarding the first deep-sea drilling in Pakistan, related to offshore fields. We are starting joint work in two onshore fields and one offshore field,” he said.
The agreement will be signed on Tuesday, Bayraktar confirmed.
A consortium that includes the Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) secured exploration rights for an offshore oil field in Pakistan last month.
Speaking about Türkiye’s natural gas supply, Bayraktar stated that roughly half of the nation’s demand can now be met with liquefied natural gas (LNG), while the remainder is supplied through pipeline deliveries, including those from Russia.
“Therefore, Russian gas will continue to be an important source of imports for Türkiye,” the minister affirmed.
“There is nothing to be concerned about in this regard. Our relationship with Russia, particularly in the energy field, continues in a very positive way,” he added.
Though Bayraktar did not specify the potential volumes of gas to be imported.
Türkiye’s long-term natural gas supply agreement with Russia will expire at the end of this year. Although imports from Russia are likely to resume under a new deal, it is still uncertain whether the volumes will remain the same or be scaled back.
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