MINEX Forum

Tag: Türkiye

  • Türkiye Frames Energy Crises as Opportunity Under “New Energy Architecture” Strategy

    Türkiye Frames Energy Crises as Opportunity Under “New Energy Architecture” Strategy

    Türkiye is navigating successive global energy crises through a coordinated mix of policy planning, infrastructure investment, and strategic resource development, according to Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar.

    In an article published in Turkish daily Sabah ahead of the second Istanbul Natural Resources Summit (INRES 2026), Bayraktar said the country has managed to transform recent geopolitical and market disruptions into opportunities under what he described as a long-term “new energy architecture.”

    He pointed to the last six years as a period defined by overlapping global energy shocks, including conflict-driven disruptions in key regions, arguing that Türkiye has been able to maintain stability through strong leadership, established infrastructure, and coordinated policy execution.

    Bayraktar highlighted milestones in Türkiye’s National Energy and Mining Policy, including the major 2020 natural gas discovery in the Black Sea region and subsequent development efforts that now supply domestic gas to millions of households. He also referenced oil production expansion in Şırnak’s Gabar region, where output has reached tens of thousands of barrels per day.

    The minister said Türkiye’s broader strategy is built on a “crisis-opportunity” framework, combining domestic resource development with international exploration efforts. These include ongoing drilling activities in Somalia and planned operations in Pakistan and Libya, alongside unconventional oil exploration projects within Türkiye.

    A key pillar of the strategy is the expansion of critical mineral production, particularly boron and rare earth elements. Bayraktar said Türkiye aims to strengthen its position as a global leader in boron exports while advancing refining capabilities in rare earths, with the goal of increasing value-added production and reducing reliance on raw material exports.

    He also outlined plans to diversify energy supply routes, strengthen infrastructure resilience, and expand international partnerships across natural gas, oil, and mining sectors. Electrification was described as a central element of Türkiye’s evolving energy system, intended to create a more flexible and integrated market structure.

    Bayraktar emphasized that the INRES 2026 summit will serve as a platform for international cooperation in energy diplomacy, bringing together officials and stakeholders from Europe, Asia, and Africa. The event is expected to focus on energy security, investment, and financing strategies amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.

    Türkiye continues to position itself as a regional energy hub through expanded infrastructure, cross-border cooperation, and increased domestic production across hydrocarbons and strategic minerals.

  • Erdoğan Says Türkiye and Syria Continue Joint Mining and Oil Operations

    Erdoğan Says Türkiye and Syria Continue Joint Mining and Oil Operations

    Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced that Türkiye is continuing joint mining and oil operations with Syria’s new government, describing the cooperation as part of Ankara’s broader strategy to strengthen energy independence and reinforce its position as a regional energy hub.

    Speaking at the second Istanbul Natural Resources Summit (INRES), Erdoğan said collaboration between Türkiye and neighboring Syria in the energy and mining sectors remains active. He emphasized that achieving full energy independence is one of Türkiye’s top strategic priorities and noted that the country aims to replicate in energy and mining the same level of success it has achieved in its defense industry.

    Erdoğan also highlighted Türkiye’s growing importance in global energy transit, stating that the country’s infrastructure currently enables natural gas imports from more than 50 companies across 39 countries. According to Erdoğan, upcoming investments will increase Türkiye’s daily LNG capacity from 161 million cubic meters to 200 million cubic meters, further strengthening its role as a key bridge between energy-producing and energy-consuming nations.

    The remarks came a day after Erdoğan reaffirmed during a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump that Türkiye’s support for Syria remains ongoing, stressing that maintaining stability in the country is important for the wider region.

  • Türkiye and Uzbekistan Sign Mining Cooperation MoU Focused on Critical Minerals

    Türkiye and Uzbekistan Sign Mining Cooperation MoU Focused on Critical Minerals

    Türkiye and Uzbekistan have signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation in the mining sector, with a particular focus on critical minerals and rare earth elements, officials said on Thursday.

    The document was signed by Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar and Uzbekistan’s Minister of Mining Industry and Geology Bobir Islamov. The signing took place following high-level talks in Ankara between Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

    According to Bayraktar, the agreement is intended to promote information exchange, research and development, and the implementation of concrete joint projects in the mining sector. He said the memorandum would help advance cooperation in strategically important minerals and support broader economic ties between the two countries.

    Writing on Türkiye’s NSosyal platform, Bayraktar described the agreement as an important step toward achieving the bilateral trade volume targets set by the two presidents, expressing confidence that it would deliver mutual benefits.

    The signing coincided with the Fourth Meeting of the Türkiye–Uzbekistan High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council, chaired by Erdogan and Mirziyoyev at the presidential complex in Ankara. Beyond mining, the two countries concluded a series of additional agreements and memoranda covering cooperation in health, education, culture, transport corridors, energy, higher education, free and special economic zones, as well as economic and financial affairs.

  • Uzbekistan and Türkiye Reaffirm Strategic Partnership in Geology and Mining

    Uzbekistan and Türkiye Reaffirm Strategic Partnership in Geology and Mining

    On 26 May 2025, Uzbekistan’s Deputy Minister of Mining Industry and Geology, Rakhim Yusupov, held official talks with a Turkish delegation headed by Ramazan Sarı, Deputy Director of Türkiye’s General Directorate of Mineral Research and Exploration (MTA). The meeting underscored the enduring and productive cooperation between the two nations in the fields of geology and mining.

    Both sides praised the strength and strategic nature of their bilateral relations and expressed a shared commitment to deepening collaboration further. The discussions highlighted Uzbekistan’s ongoing sectoral reforms, which aim to modernize geological research and attract foreign investment to the mining industry.

    A key focus of the talks was Uzbekistan’s “E-auksion” electronic platform—an open-access system designed to provide entrepreneurs and investors with transparent opportunities to explore and develop newly identified mineral-rich sites. The initiative aligns with the government’s broader goals of enhancing transparency, boosting investor confidence, and unlocking the country’s geological potential.

    The meeting concluded with a mutual interest in expanding technical exchange, knowledge-sharing, and joint exploration projects between the two countries.

  • Minespider and TETHYS Unite to Digitalize Mining Supply Chains in Türkiye and Central Asia

    Minespider and TETHYS Unite to Digitalize Mining Supply Chains in Türkiye and Central Asia

    Berlin/Istanbul, May 12, 2025 – Minespider, a leading traceability and Digital Product Passport (DPP) platform, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with TETHYS Teknoloji, İnovasyon, Danışmanlık ve Ticaret A.Ş., a subsidiary of Luxembourg-based TETHYS Gateway Investment GP specializing in critical raw materials. The collaboration will develop next-generation digital traceability solutions—focusing on Battery Passports, Digital Product Passports, critical raw materials traceability, and comprehensive ESG data systems—across mining operations in Türkiye and Central Asia.

    This partnership combines TETHYS’s extensive engagement in over a dozen mining projects throughout Türkiye, Central Asia, and the Caucasus region with Minespider’s proven expertise in supply chain digitalization. Together, they will pilot end-to-end systems that embed transparent, verifiable data directly into the mineral supply chain, aiming to:

    • Prevent artisanal mining abuses and curb illicit mining activities

    • Reduce the risk of child labour and human rights violations

    • Ensure compliance with evolving European and global regulations

    • Facilitate market access, particularly into the EU’s regulated markets

    Under the MoU, both partners will jointly pursue technology integration, proof-of-concept developments, and coordinated customer outreach. Their deliverables will include web, mobile, and backend applications that enable traceability, automated regulatory reporting, and real-time ESG data collection throughout exploration, extraction, and production phases.

    “We’re thrilled to partner with TETHYS to bring greater transparency and traceability to mineral supply chains in Türkiye and the Central Asian region,” said Nathan Williams, Founder & CEO of Minespider. “As global demand for responsibly sourced minerals continues to grow, ensuring digital proof of origin and ethical practices is no longer optional—it’s a must. Together with TETHYS, we’re building the digital infrastructure that empowers stakeholders with the data they need to make informed, sustainable decisions.”

    “Our partnership with Minespider is focused on a clear objective: ensuring digital product compatibility for the entire mining lifecycle in Türkiye and Central Asia,” added Leyla Keser Berber, Chairperson of TETHYS. “Through advanced traceability and data systems, we aim to eliminate risks such as illegal mining, artisanal mining abuses, and human rights violations—while supporting industrial players in meeting global regulatory standards.”

    Pilot projects and client engagements are slated to begin shortly, positioning the Minespider–TETHYS alliance as a pioneer in the digital transformation of mining ecosystems across the region.

    Key Facts

    • Türkiye’s mineral diversity: Home to 70 types of natural resources, 60 of which are actively traded internationally.

    • Central Asia’s critical minerals:

      • 38.6 % of global manganese ore

      • 30.07 % of chromium

      • 20 % of lead

      • 12.6 % of zinc

      • 8.7 % of titanium

    • EU regulatory framework: Minerals exported to Europe must comply with the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA), Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), Conflict Minerals Regulation, Battery Regulation, and more.

    About the Companies

    Minespider
    A global traceability platform, Minespider offers Digital Product Passports—digital IDs that carry key data across supply chains. Its clients include Tata Elxsi, Ford Otosan, Renault, Minsur, Luna Smelter, and TEMSA.

    TETHYS Teknoloji, İnovasyon, Danışmanlık ve Ticaret A.Ş.
    Headquartered in Istanbul, TETHYS specializes in critical raw materials, mining innovation, and supply chain digitalization. Its portfolio spans exploration to investment structuring for clients like CVK Mining, Tamer Mining, and Marmotek. TETHYS also facilitates European funding partnerships in sustainability and responsible sourcing.

  • Global Tensions Rise as Nations Compete for Critical Minerals and Rare Earth Elements

    Global Tensions Rise as Nations Compete for Critical Minerals and Rare Earth Elements

    The world is on the verge of a new geopolitical conflict centered around rare earth elements (REEs)and critical minerals, which are essential for high-tech industries, clean energy, space exploration, and military technologies. These resources have become the focal point of global competition, driven by their strategic importance and economic value.

    Countries like the United States, China, and emerging powers such as Türkiye are aggressively positioning themselves to secure access to these minerals. For instance, former U.S. President Donald Trump has pursued aggressive policies toward Ukraine, Greenland, and Canada, aiming to leverage their mineral-rich territories. Ukraine, which holds 5% of global rare earth reserves and the largest titanium reserves in Europe, is being courted by the U.S. for a $500 billion REE deal in exchange for security guarantees.

    China currently dominates the REE market, controlling one-third to half of global reserves and nearly 95% of production capacity. This monopoly has raised concerns among Western nations, who are increasingly dependent on Chinese supplies. The U.S. Department of Energy and the European Commission have classified these materials as strategic commodities, prompting efforts to reduce reliance on China and diversify supply chains.

    Meanwhile, Türkiye is emerging as a key player, with significant boron reserves and the discovery of the Eskişehir REE reserve, positioning it second only to China. The Turkish government is investing heavily in mapping and securing its mineral resources to achieve strategic commodity independence.

    As demand for REEs surges due to advancements in green technologies, artificial intelligence, and defense systems, nations are scrambling to secure their share of these vital resources. The competition is not just about economic gain but also about geopolitical influence and national security.