Turkey and Germany have broadened their bilateral energy cooperation by formally incorporating minerals into the Turkish-German Energy Partnership and its associated forum. The announcement was made during the 7th Turkish-German Energy Forum held in Ankara on 19 June.
Speaking at the event, Turkey’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Alparslan Bayraktar, said the change reflects the growing importance of critical minerals and rare earth elements in the global energy transition. He noted that energy security now extends beyond traditional energy supplies to include the raw materials needed for renewable technologies and advanced energy systems.
Bayraktar highlighted Turkey’s mineral resources and its efforts to expand domestic processing capacity, describing the country as a potential long-term partner in critical raw materials supply chains. He also called for a more structured framework for cooperation involving governments, industry representatives, and research institutions.
The minister stated that renewable energy sources currently account for approximately 65% of Turkey’s installed electricity generation capacity. According to Bayraktar, solar power is expected to become the country’s largest single source of installed capacity by the end of 2025. He added that Turkey is pursuing a broader strategy focused on electrification, digitalisation and system resilience.
In addition to renewable energy development, Turkey continues to diversify its natural gas supply portfolio. Accordingly, Bayraktar said the country’s geographic position and energy infrastructure enable it to contribute to Europe’s energy security through diversified supply routes and sources.
Meanwhile, Germany’s Minister of Economy and Energy, Katherina Reiche, underlined Turkey’s role in European energy networks, stating that around 10% of Germany’s energy imports pass through Turkey.
Further strengthening industrial cooperation in the renewable energy sector, German wind turbine manufacturer Enercon signed agreements to support the production of turbine components in Turkey.
The expansion of the partnership reflects growing European attention to securing access to critical minerals, which are considered essential for renewable energy technologies, battery production, and other strategic industries.
Source: commonspace.eu with Renewables Now.
