Turkey's Oil-Hungry Transport Sector Drives Domestic Production Efforts

Turkey's transport sector is heavily dependent on oil products, accounting for around 30% of the country's total final energy consumption in 2023. This has created a large domestic market for petroleum, which can be replaced by domestic production.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) reported that Turkey imports more than 85% of its oil, making it the fifth-largest importer in the world. To reduce this reliance on imported fuels, Turkey is increasing its renewable energy capacity, with renewables supplying 43% of the country's electricity in 2025.

However, even as the country shifts towards cleaner power sources, its transport sector remains largely dependent on oil products. The IEA notes that growth in vehicle numbers and travel is increasing fuel consumption, which cannot be directly reduced by adding renewable and nuclear generation.