Turkish Energy Minister: ‘Step Up Cooperation with Italy’

(ANSA) - ISTANBUL, 27 OTT - Turkey aims to intensify energy cooperation with Italy, including through joint initiatives to be implemented in third countries. “A fruitful collaboration between Italian and Turkish companies on projects here in Turkey is already evident, and there is also significant potential for joint initiatives in third countries. I am certain that this will bring prosperity and economic value to both nations,” Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar, told ANSA on the sidelines of an event bringing together Turkish and Italian business leaders from the energy sector, organized by the Italian Embassy in Turkey at the Palazzo di Venezia in Istanbul. “Today’s meeting is an excellent example of how such cooperation can take shape, unlocking greater potential between the two countries,” said the Turkish energy minister. “I believe the time has come for our two countries to intensify their cooperation,” Bayraktar stated, echoing the opening remarks by Italian Ambassador to Turkey Giuseppe Manzo and citing the challenges posed by an “extremely difficult global scenario.” Emphasizing that “relations between Turkey and Italy at the political level are excellent,” Bayraktar said it is important to transform this political dialogue—which is “characterized by excellent communication and harmony”—into closer collaboration between the business community and the industrial sector as well. “Security of supply is our top priority. Second, just as in Italy, we depend on energy imports, so we must reduce that dependence,” said Bayraktar, adding that achieving carbon neutrality is also a priority for Ankara in the near future, noting that Turkey will host the UN Climate Change Conference (COP 31) in November. “At that conference, we will propose the goal of achieving a global electrification rate of 35% by 2035. However, we must start immediately, demonstrating that this is also our goal; electrification is, in fact, at the heart of our strategy,” said Bayraktar, adding that renewables and nuclear power also represent “key tools” to be developed in Turkey’s future energy strategy. “We are currently building four reactors in Akkuyu,” said the energy minister, referring to the project for Turkey’s first nuclear power plant, a $20 billion facility consisting of four reactors with a total capacity of 4,800 megawatts, which has been under construction since 2015 in the south of the country in collaboration with the Russian state-owned company Rosatom. “Since I understand that Italy is also moving forward in the nuclear sector, I believe there is potential for collaboration in this area,” Bayraktar concluded.
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