Turkey exports the most natural gas to Bulgaria, BGNES reported.

Natural gas exports from Turkey increased significantly, unlike imports.

The total volume of "blue fuel" exports for the period January-August 2024 (the latest official data available) reached 1.18 billion cubic meters. This means that compared to the same period in 2023, exports increased by over 560%.

Turkey exports most of its natural gas to Bulgaria, followed by Hungary.

In the first eight months of last year, Turkish exports of pipeline gas amounted to 948.58 million cubic meters, and liquefied natural gas – 0.21 million cubic meters.

A total of 80.39% of all Turkish gas exports are destined for Bulgaria.

Hungary ranks second, with Ankara exporting 229.51 million cubic meters of pipeline gas, or 19.45% of total exports.

Turkey exports extremely small quantities to North Macedonia and Serbia, 1.8 million cubic meters and 0.13 million cubic meters, respectively, which represent 0.15% and 0.01% of total exports.

One of the reasons for the increase in gas production is the exploitation of the large Sakarya gas field. Production there began in 2023, marking the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Turkish Republic. The drilling ships Fatih, Yavuz, and Kanuni, named after the greatest sultans in Ottoman-Turkish history, carried out additional drilling, which is also one of the reasons for the increase in production.

According to the latest data, the daily production of the Filo natural gas processing plant amounts to 6.6 million cubic meters. The plan is to reach a production volume of 10 million cubic meters from 12 production wells in the first quarter of 2025, meeting the "blue fuel" needs of more than 4 million households.

Last year, an important step was also taken to increase offshore hydrocarbon production. In July, a floating gas production vessel was purchased to strengthen Turkey's fleet. It is planned to be put into operation in 2026, when the second phase of the Sakarya gas field development begins. The ship is the size of three football fields. With its help, Turkey will be able to produce more than 20 million cubic meters per day.

BGNES reminds that Bulgaria has also stepped up its hydrocarbon exploration in the Black Sea. Recently, Prime Minister Rosen Plevneliev's government signed an agreement with Shell for exploration and research in the Khan Tervel block in the deepwater part of the Black Sea. Progress has been made in the Khan Asparuh block, where OMV and Newmed are preparing a fifth well, and the state has a mandate from the National Assembly to participate in the exploration through BEH.

Energy Minister Zhecho Stankov noted that these are strategic projects that will strengthen our energy independence. "The cleanest and cheapest gas for Bulgaria will be Bulgarian gas," he told participants at an energy forum. І BGNES