TURKISH Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar has said that Turkey is building about 10 acres of solar farms every hour, underscoring renewable energy as central to the country’s drive for independence.
Speaking during parliamentary budget debates, Bayraktar said Turkey plans 282 onshore and 18 offshore drilling operations in 2026, following what he described as successful exploration in 2025.
He added that during 10 hours of budget talks, solar capacity equal to the electricity needs of 5,000 households was installed.
Bayraktar defended nuclear, mining, coal, oil and gas projects as vital to energy security, accusing the opposition of dismissing or undermining them.
He cited discoveries of rare earth elements in Eskişehir’s Beylikova district and criticized opposition leaders for what he called “political opportunism” in claiming ownership of the issue.
He said Turkey has provided nearly 1 trillion lira in electricity and natural gas subsidies over the past two years and will continue support for low‑income households.
Bayraktar added that new rules will exclude wealthier consumers from subsidies, saying, “The state should not pay half the gas and electricity bills of those living in villas.”