Gabar Oil Field Hits Record Production Amid Turkish Energy Ambitions

Türkiye's largest onshore oil field has reached a record daily production of 83,300 barrels, according to Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar. The Gabar oil field, which was once associated with 'blood, tears and hopelessness', has become a center for production, employment and hope under the government's 'Terror-Free Türkiye' initiative.

The field, located in southeastern Turkey near the Iraqi border, was discovered in 2021 after state-owned Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) stepped up exploration activities. Bayraktar estimated the field's reserves at around 1 billion barrels of oil and aims to raise production to 100,000 barrels per day.

Despite record output from Gabar, domestic crude production remains far from sufficient to meet Turkey's oil demand, leaving the country heavily reliant on imports. In 2025, Türkiye imported 31.9 million tons of crude oil, equivalent to about 234.1 million barrels, or roughly 641,400 barrels per day.

TPAO aims to increase combined oil and natural gas production to 500,000 barrels per day by 2028 before eventually raising output to 1 million barrels per day.