'The largest natural gas discovery in the history of the Republic' is back on the agenda: Preparing for a referendum?
The remarks made by Bayraktar during an interview in the US, where he stated, 'We have found the largest natural gas reserve in the history of the Republic in Sakarya,' have made headlines in the media. Reports on the subject by news outlets close to the government have raised the question: 'Is an early election or a constitutional referendum on the way?'
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Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar, who traveled to New York to attend the 79th United Nations (UN) General Assembly, made assessments regarding the current agenda and Turkey's energy policies. The fact that Bayraktar's statement, 'We have found the largest natural gas reserve in the history of the Republic in Sakarya,' was highlighted by the media may be related to the possibilities of a referendum or an early election.
In recent years, the government has frequently stated that 'historic' amounts of natural gas, oil, and similar mineral resources have been discovered before elections. The possibility of a constitutional referendum and an early election has frequently been on the agenda in the press and public opinion in Turkey in recent months.
Political analysts and journalists have frequently voiced the view that the emergence of natural resources during election periods is a form of political 'propaganda' whenever the topic comes up.
Some social media users shared comments along the lines of 'elections are approaching' regarding the news.
Exploration activities in the Sakarya Gas Field, 2024 Source: Anadolu Agency
GOVERNMENT'S DISCOVERY 'GOOD NEWS' COINCIDES WITH ELECTION PERIODS
Natural resource discoveries made as elections approach in Turkey occupy the political agenda heavily. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan brings these discoveries to the agenda in his election rallies. The 'Tuna-1 Well Discovery' made in 2020 and the 'Additional Natural Gas Discovery' carried out in the same drilling area, as well as the 'Amasra-1 Well Discovery' and 'Çaycuma-1 Well Discovery' in 2021, are examples of this situation.
Media sources close to the government have reported on the natural resource discoveries announced by Erdoğan using the term 'good news' every time.
Social media users and media outlets described as 'opposition' have argued that this is a form of 'political propaganda.'
Allegations that the AKP is 'distorting' and announcing natural gas and similar resource discoveries to the public to create 'hope' that the economic situation will improve have been on the agenda in the media.
President Erdoğan explaining natural gas exploration activities to the public in 2022, Source: Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye
ERDOĞAN HAD PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED 'THE LARGEST DISCOVERY IN HISTORY'
Erdoğan had made a very similar statement to Bayraktar's announcement that 'the largest natural gas reserves in the history of the Republic were found' in the Sakarya Gas Field for another discovery in 2020. The President stated in 2020 that the Tuna-1 Well was the 'largest natural gas reserve in Turkish history' and repeated this expression frequently until the 2023 general elections.
The common point of all these discoveries is the claim that they will ease the economy 'one day in the future' and will place Turkey 'among the leading countries in the field of energy in the world.'
According to Bayraktar's statement, the 'Floating Production Facility,' which will enable the processing of gas extracted at the sea surface and its transport to land, will be in Turkey next week. However, the facility will become operational in 2026.
Erdoğan had previously given the 'good news' that the Floating Production Facility would be imported.
The Minister added to his words that 'production will be carried out at a level that will meet the natural gas needs of 4 million households in the future.'
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar