Turkey, encouraged by research showing the country might have huge gas potential, particularly around Central and Southeastern Anatolia and Thrace, aims to increase production of shale gas, Hürriyet Daily News reports.
Turkey could meet 14 years of its gas demand by using the technically recoverable shale gas resource, 651 bcm, an official report estimates.
Natural gas currently provides 21 percent of global energy supplies, according to energy experts. There had been about 50 to 60 years’ worth of gas supply globally until a couple of years ago, but now it is believed there is minimum of a 200-year supply arising from discoveries of shale gas.
Turkey has appeared to accelerate its local energy exploration and production activities, specifically in local shale gas.
"Turkey has a great potential for shale gas. We plan to begin production of the gas by taking the necessary measures to prevent contamination of the environment," the minister for energy of Turkey said.
