Turkish citizens to receive free natural gas for a year as country reaches historic milestone

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan recently inaugurated the extraction of natural gas from a field in the Black Sea, which is expected to lead Turkey to achieve self-sufficiency in the energy sector. This historic step is expected to reduce the country’s dependence on energy imports, which is a major source of concern for the Turkish economy.

Turkey discovered vast quantities of gas off the coast of Zonguldak state in a natural gas field, which Erdogan claims to be the largest in the country. The field is expected to contribute significantly to Turkey’s energy requirements, covering about 30% of the country’s annual needs. When production reaches its maximum level, the gas extracted from the Black Sea will be enough to provide natural gas to all Turkish homes for the next 35 years, according to Turkish Energy Minister Fatih Donmez.

In a move to celebrate this landmark achievement, Erdogan announced that Turkish citizens will receive natural gas to heat their homes and cook for free for a year. This gesture is expected to bring relief to the Turkish people, especially the most vulnerable in society, who struggle to pay their energy bills.

The inauguration ceremony was broadcast live on Turkish television, and Erdogan spoke passionately about the importance of this achievement for the country. He noted that the extraction and transportation of gas makes 85 million Turkish citizens happy, but grieves some who linked their political future to the people’s problems. He also called out those who feel distressed by Turkey’s successes, as well as those who do not want it to grow and strengthen its strength.

Turkey has been heavily dependent on imports of natural gas, with Russia being its biggest supplier, providing 40% of the country’s gas needs. Turkey also imports gas from Azerbaijan and Iran. However, Ankara has been looking to diversify its supply sources, especially after Russia’s conflict with Ukraine last year.

The Black Sea gas field’s development project was completed at lightning speed following the discovery in 2020. The project involves the production of 10 million cubic meters of natural gas per day from 10 wells in the first phase and 40 million cubic meters per day from 40 wells in the second phase. The project is expected to meet about 30% of Turkey’s current natural gas needs on its own when it reaches its full capacity.

The natural gas extracted from the Black Sea is expected to reduce Turkey’s dependence on energy imports and bring about significant economic benefits for the country. It is hoped that the project will pave the way for more investment in the energy sector, and Turkey will