Gabar Breaks Production Records as Türkiye Seeks Energy Independence
Türkiye's search for oil is not a recent endeavor, dating back to exploration activities in the 1930s and the establishment of the Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) in 1954.
The country has been importing oil due to rising demand and limited domestic production. However, in 2017, the National Energy and Mining Policy was introduced to accelerate the exploration of domestic oil and natural gas resources.
Gabar, a field in Şırnak, emerged as one of the policy's most concrete onshore results after seismic surveys launched in 2020 produced promising findings. Drilling began in 2021, with wells brought online that year and additional discoveries expanding the field.
According to official figures, Gabar's daily oil production has reached a record 83,300 barrels, exceeding cumulative crude output of 50 million barrels since 2021. This growth is significant considering Türkiye's total daily crude oil output was around 65,000 barrels in 2022.