Ankara, June 07 (QNA) - Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Alparslan Bayraktar has said that Turkiye is continuing to strengthen its energy independence and reduce its reliance on imported oil and natural gas, at an accelerated pace.

In a statement on Sunday, Bayraktar said that his country's natural gas production is expected to double in 2026 and quadruple by 2028.

Turkiye's natural gas discoveries in the Black Sea have helped meet the energy needs of approximately 4 million households, he noted.

The Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources pointed out that Turkiye paid nearly USD 100 billion for energy imports in 2022, stressing the importance of reducing this burden on the economy, particularly amid rising global energy prices.

Bayraktar reiterated that achieving energy independence and developing high-value exports are two fundamental pillars of Turkiye's economic priorities. (QNA)