With energy security at the forefront, Türkiye continues its drive toward reducing reliance on imports by developing homegrown energy solutions. The country has just welcomed its first-ever Floating Production, Storage, and Offloading (FPSO) vessel—a colossal unit the size of three football fields. Once operational in 2026, the FPSO will double Türkiye’s natural gas production from its massive Sakarya gas field in the Black Sea.
As the global energy transition shifts toward decarbonization, natural gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) are increasingly seen as essential bridge fuels to meet rising energy demands. Türkiye has made several strategic moves in this area, including acquiring a Floating Production Unit (FPU) last year and securing ten-year LNG deals with ExxonMobil, Shell, and TotalEnergies.
After departing Singapore in July 2024, the FPSO embarked on a 51-day voyage, arriving in Çanakkale onboard Boskalis’ Vanguard heavy transport vessel. Türkiye’s Energy and Natural Resources Minister, Alparslan Bayraktar, was on hand to inspect the FPSO’s central control room, highlighting the vessel’s crucial role in meeting the country’s energy needs.
“We will extract the gas from the seabed, process it here, and connect it to BOTAŞ’s line, which is 180 kilometers away on land. This facility will become our production base at sea, helping us meet nearly 15% of the nation’s gas needs,” Bayraktar stated.
Once all technical preparations in Çanakkale are completed, the FPSO will head to its permanent location at the Sakarya gas field, 170 kilometers offshore. The facility is expected to come online in 2026, processing 10 million cubic meters of natural gas per day—enough to supply 4.4 million households.
According to Bayraktar, Türkiye will be capable of producing enough gas to power approximately 9 million households by 2026. The FPSO itself is an engineering marvel, measuring 300 meters in length, 56 meters in width, and 58 meters in height, and will be anchored 20 meters below the seabed by 20 specialized anchors.
A workforce of 140 personnel will operate the FPSO, with 165 people in total working 24/7 across both the sea and land operations. While no name has been given to the unit yet, Bayraktar hinted that suggestions are being considered, with the final decision to be presented to the President.
Türkiye’s ambitions extend beyond the Black Sea, as the country plans further exploration drilling this year to bolster its gas production. Additionally, Bayraktar announced that the Oruç Reis seismic research vessel will soon head to Somalia to conduct 3D seismic studies in a 15,000-square-kilometer license area granted to Turkish Petroleum.