Turkey has recorded a dramatic surge in natural gas exports in 2024, fueled by intensified production from the Sakarya gas field in the Black Sea, according to Bulgarian news agency BGNES.
New data covering the period from January to August reveals that Turkey exported 1.18 billion cubic meters of natural gas, marking an extraordinary 560% increase compared to the same timeframe in 2023.
Bulgaria stands out as the primary recipient of Turkish gas, accounting for over 80% of total exports. The Balkan country imported 80.39% of Turkey’s gas shipments, underlining its growing energy ties with its southern neighbor.
Hungary follows as the second-largest importer, receiving 229.51 million cubic meters—19.45% of the total exports. Smaller volumes were sent to the Republic of Macedonia and Serbia, which together made up less than 0.2% of exports.
The surge in exports directly corresponds with the accelerated development of the Sakarya gas field, which began operations in 2023, coinciding with the 100th anniversary of the Turkish Republic.
This milestone was marked by active drilling from Turkey’s fleet of vessels—Fatih, Yavuz, and Kanuni—named after prominent Ottoman sultans, reflecting the nation’s ambition to secure energy independence.
Currently, the Filos gas processing facility, associated with Sakarya, produces 6.6 million cubic meters of natural gas daily. Turkish officials aim to ramp this up to 10 million cubic meters per day by the first quarter of 2025, drawing from 12 production wells.
This scale of output is projected to supply energy to over four million households, signaling a significant step forward in meeting domestic demand while expanding export capacity.
Further solidifying its offshore gas ambitions, Turkey acquired a large floating gas production vessel in July 2024 to support the second phase of Sakarya’s development, slated to commence in 2026.
The vessel, described as the size of three football fields, is expected to elevate production capacity beyond 20 million cubic meters daily, marking a major leap in Turkey’s hydrocarbon capabilities.
Meanwhile, Bulgaria is intensifying its own exploration efforts in the Black Sea to strengthen energy security. The government, led by Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov, recently signed a contract with global energy giant Shell to conduct exploration in the Khan Tervel block.
In the nearby Khan Asparuh block, Austrian company OMV and Numed are preparing to drill a fifth exploratory well. Bulgaria’s state energy company, BEH, has secured a mandate to actively participate in these ventures.
Energy Minister Zhecho Stankov underlined the significance of these initiatives during a recent energy forum, emphasizing Bulgaria’s drive towards energy independence.
“The cleanest and cheapest gas for Bulgaria will be Bulgarian,” he declared, highlighting the country’s strategic focus on boosting domestic production to reduce reliance on imports.
The rapid growth of Turkish natural gas exports, coupled with Bulgaria’s expanding Black Sea exploration activities, points to a reshaping of the regional energy landscape.
With Turkey emerging as a major exporter and Bulgaria keen to tap into local resources, Southeastern Europe is witnessing a new phase of energy cooperation and diversification, which could have lasting impacts on regional stability and energy security.