Gabar Mountain Breaks Oil Production Records, Strengthening Türkiye's Energy Security
Türkiye's search for oil is not a recent endeavor, dating back to the 1930s. However, population growth, industrialization, and economic expansion caused demand to rise faster than domestic production, making oil a major component of Türkiye's energy import bill and current account deficit.
In response, the National Energy and Mining Policy was introduced in 2017, aiming to accelerate the exploration of domestic oil and natural gas resources. The policy led to more intensive onshore programs and stronger seismic survey and drilling capabilities at sea.
The most concrete result of this policy is Gabar, an onshore field in Şırnak that has reached a record 83,300 barrels per day in oil production. This achievement reflects a broader transformation in Türkiye's oil production capacity, with Gabar alone producing more than the country's total daily crude oil output just a few years ago.
The significance of Gabar lies not only in its contribution to reducing the import bill and supporting the current account but also in its impact on energy security. Although it cannot make Türkiye independent of global prices, Gabar reduces the volume exposed to external supply risks and strengthens the country's energy security.