Five facts about Turkey’s gas discovery in Black Sea

Duvar English

The natural gas discovery which was announced by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Aug. 21 is considered as a sign of his government's preparations for a snap election by the opposition parties, according to journalist Murat Yetkin.

"Erdoğan wants some kind of election guarantee from the citizens as he says the gas extraction will start in 2023. It looks as if the President wants to give an impression that any other government else than his would not like to benefit from this valuable discovery that the country made after such long years of research. However, citizens are looking for solutions to serious economic problems today," Yetkin wrote in a recent piece published in his personal blog.

While analyzing possible outcomes of the recent discovery in the Black Sea, Yetkin reminded of the fact that the recent Turkish political history is full of announcements of oil and gas discoveries by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) governments which eventually led nowhere.

"Before the 2007 elections, it was announced that natural gas was found in Thrace and Salt Lake, and oil in Manisa. Before the 2010 constitutional referendum, Turkey found oil in Manisa and Ergani. Before the 2014 elections, the good news on the finding of shale gas in Diyarbakır that would Turkey’s demand for  40 years was announced. Ahead of the June 7, 2015 election, it was announced that natural gas was found in Thrace, and before the Nov. 1, 2015 election, natural gas was discovered in the Black Sea. Before the 2018 elections, new oil fields were found in Mardin, Şırnak, Hakkari, Batman and Siirt and natural gas in Thrace. Finally, before the March 31, 2019, local elections, the good news of oil in Siirt and natural gas in Thrace were declared. I wish all these were true," Yetkin said.

Murat Yetkin's piece in full can be reached here.