Turkey to Send 900 Megawatts of Electricity to Syria and Pursues a New Pipeline Agreement with Iraq: Ministerial announcement
Turkey is actively expanding its oil and gas exploration strategy, with a particular focus on Libya and Somalia. In Libya, Turkey is planning to start a major 10,000-kilometre seismic mapping campaign in four offshore zones jointly with Libya, aiming to tap into Libya's vast untapped hydrocarbon reserves [1][2][3][4]. This strategy is underpinned by a 2019 maritime boundary agreement with Libya's Government of National Accord (GNA). Recent developments indicate that Libya's eastern parliament, which had previously opposed the deal, is poised to approve the agreement, signaling a warming of relations with Turkey and enabling Turkish exploration between Crete and Turkey despite ongoing disputes with Greece and Cyprus over maritime boundaries [1].
In Somalia, Turkey is set to begin oil and gas exploration by operating survey and drilling vessels in the country’s territorial waters, marking a strategic push into East Africa’s hydrocarbon potential alongside its Mediterranean ambitions [1].
Regarding Niger and Pakistan, no publicly reported oil and gas exploration strategy by Turkey has been found as of 2025. As of now, no public reports indicate Turkey conducting exploration missions, agreements, or energy cooperation related to oil and gas in Niger or Pakistan.
Turkey's Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar stated that Syria's oil infrastructure needs modernization and investment. In Syria, Turkey is working towards increasing its electricity exports. Currently, Turkey is exporting approximately 281 MW of electricity to Syria through eight different connection points [5]. The aim is to increase this amount to 360 MW in the coming weeks. Some work needs to be done on Syrian territory for the connection [5]. Turkey's ultimate goal is to export an additional 500 MW to Syria within the next few months [5].
The Türkiye-Iraq Oil Pipeline, with a capacity of 1.5 million barrels per day, is another key aspect of Turkey's energy strategy. Turkey aims to use the pipeline at full capacity. A new draft agreement for the pipeline has been sent to the Iraqi government, and technical teams are expected to begin negotiations for the new agreement soon [5]. However, the Iraqi government is currently reviewing the structure of the new draft agreement [5].
Turkey is also producing oil and gas in Azerbaijan, and it is currently exporting approximately 3.4 million cubic meters of gas daily from Azerbaijan [5]. Turkey's goal is to increase electricity exports to Syria to 900 MW by the first quarter of next year [5].
| Country | Turkey's Oil & Gas Exploration Strategy (2025) | |----------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Libya | Offshore seismic surveys and exploration based on 2019 maritime deal with Libya’s GNA; 10,000 km seismic mapping; eastern parliament moving to approve deal; tensions with Greece & Cyprus persist. | | Somalia | Launching oil and gas exploration via seismic surveys and drilling in territorial waters. | | Niger | No publicly reported oil and gas exploration strategy by Turkey as of 2025. | | Pakistan | No publicly reported oil and gas exploration strategy by Turkey as of 2025. |
- The Turkish government is working towards modernizing Syria's oil infrastructure and increasing electricity exports to Syria, currently at approximately 281 MW, with plans to increase this to 360 MW in the near future.
- In Libya, there is a 2019 maritime boundary agreement with the Government of National Accord, and Turkey is planning a significant seismic mapping campaign in four offshore zones, with the eastern parliament now poised to approve the agreement.
- Additionally, Turkey is set to begin oil and gas exploration in Somalia, operating survey and drilling vessels in its territorial waters, marking a strategic push into East Africa's hydrocarbon potential.
- Regarding Niger and Pakistan, no publicly reported oil and gas exploration strategy by Turkey has been found as of 2025, with no public reports indicating Turkey conducting exploration missions, agreements, or energy cooperation related to oil and gas in these countries.
