ISTANBUL, Nov 7: Poised to host the COP31 climate summit, Turkey on Friday unveiled an ambitious $500 billion roadmap for electrifying its economy and slashing imports, but offered no clear timeline for exiting coal.
Just days before the UN conference opens in the resort city of Antalya, Turkey's energy minister launched its new National Energy Plan, seeking self-sufficiency by 2040 by ramping up renewables while also pushing new oil and gas investments.
As summit host, Turkey's own energy policies have come under scrutiny especially as coal accounts for a third of its power, making it the leading generator of coal-fired electricity in Europe, according to energy think tank Ember.
"When we reach 2040, we are going to reduce our emissions by 40 percent and this big change in electrification will make it happen," Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar told reporters during a presentation on Friday.
But that would require "a big paradigm shift" in energy demand in Turkey: "We need to change the demand from diesel or gasoline towards electricity," he said.
Under the plan -- which marks the halfway point towards the country's 2053 net zero target -- Turkey aims to meet 36 percent of its energy needs from electricity, up from around 22 percent today.
Its installed power capacity -- which stood at 123 GW in 2025 -- will increase to 281 GW, with the renewables share rising from 63 percent to 77 percent. Within that, wind and solar capacity will grow nearly fourfold, from 45 GW to 175 GW.
- Oil imports -
The plan also seeks to wean Turkey off its heavy dependence on energy imports. Bayraktar said Ankara has this year signed cooperation deals with oil majors such as Shell, Exxon, Chevron, ENI, Total and BP to accelerate its exploration both at home, as well as in Pakistan, Somalia and beyond.
"Our aim is to produce more oil and gas in Turkey and abroad," he said, pointing to a "huge project list" and plans to double production at its Black Sea gas field to 7.5 billion cubic metres in 2027.
The energy roadmap comes with a hefty price tag, requiring Turkey to raise "half a trillion dollars in investment" by 2040, Bayraktar said -- $210 billion from five public sector companies and the rest through foreign investment.
"If the world is serious about carbon neutrality ... to fight climate change and global warming, we need to find the money," he said.
- 'We need coal' -
Asked about a possible roadmap for exiting coal in light of its planned 40-percent emissions reduction, Bayraktar said Turkey needed coal for its energy security.
"Why do we need coal? For security of supply. Equally important is that it's providing at least 30,000 to 40,000 people with employment," he said, pledging to outline plans for "a just transition on the coal side" at COP31.
Ultimately, an exit from coal would depend on how much Turkey was able to ramp up its nuclear power production.
"Nuclear is the key area for us to replace coal," he said.
"We need 10 GW of installed nuclear power generation capacity by the year 2040."
He said however it would take "until 2030" to know whether Turkey would have enough nuclear power by 2040 to replace coal.
Turkey is planning to open its first nuclear power plant at Akkuyu on the Mediterranean coast with the first reactor scheduled to be online by the year's end, Bayraktar said.
It also has another planned at Sinop on the Black Sea and a third in the western province of Thrace.
Bayraktar said Turkey was currently in talks with Canada, South Korea's Kepco, Russia's Rosatom and China.
Just days before the UN conference opens in the resort city of Antalya, Turkey's energy minister launched its new National Energy Plan, seeking self-sufficiency by 2040 by ramping up renewables while also pushing new oil and gas investments.
As summit host, Turkey's own energy policies have come under scrutiny especially as coal accounts for a third of its power, making it the leading generator of coal-fired electricity in Europe, according to energy think tank Ember.
"When we reach 2040, we are going to reduce our emissions by 40 percent and this big change in electrification will make it happen," Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar told reporters during a presentation on Friday.
But that would require "a big paradigm shift" in energy demand in Turkey: "We need to change the demand from diesel or gasoline towards electricity," he said.
Under the plan -- which marks the halfway point towards the country's 2053 net zero target -- Turkey aims to meet 36 percent of its energy needs from electricity, up from around 22 percent today.
Its installed power capacity -- which stood at 123 GW in 2025 -- will increase to 281 GW, with the renewables share rising from 63 percent to 77 percent. Within that, wind and solar capacity will grow nearly fourfold, from 45 GW to 175 GW.
- Oil imports -
The plan also seeks to wean Turkey off its heavy dependence on energy imports. Bayraktar said Ankara has this year signed cooperation deals with oil majors such as Shell, Exxon, Chevron, ENI, Total and BP to accelerate its exploration both at home, as well as in Pakistan, Somalia and beyond.
"Our aim is to produce more oil and gas in Turkey and abroad," he said, pointing to a "huge project list" and plans to double production at its Black Sea gas field to 7.5 billion cubic metres in 2027.
The energy roadmap comes with a hefty price tag, requiring Turkey to raise "half a trillion dollars in investment" by 2040, Bayraktar said -- $210 billion from five public sector companies and the rest through foreign investment.
"If the world is serious about carbon neutrality ... to fight climate change and global warming, we need to find the money," he said.
- 'We need coal' -
Asked about a possible roadmap for exiting coal in light of its planned 40-percent emissions reduction, Bayraktar said Turkey needed coal for its energy security.
"Why do we need coal? For security of supply. Equally important is that it's providing at least 30,000 to 40,000 people with employment," he said, pledging to outline plans for "a just transition on the coal side" at COP31.
Ultimately, an exit from coal would depend on how much Turkey was able to ramp up its nuclear power production.
"Nuclear is the key area for us to replace coal," he said.
"We need 10 GW of installed nuclear power generation capacity by the year 2040."
He said however it would take "until 2030" to know whether Turkey would have enough nuclear power by 2040 to replace coal.
Turkey is planning to open its first nuclear power plant at Akkuyu on the Mediterranean coast with the first reactor scheduled to be online by the year's end, Bayraktar said.
It also has another planned at Sinop on the Black Sea and a third in the western province of Thrace.
Bayraktar said Turkey was currently in talks with Canada, South Korea's Kepco, Russia's Rosatom and China.
Bear necessities: Indian techie builds wildlife alert
INDIA, Nov 7: After his mother was killed in a bear attack in Kashmir, Indian software engineer Mudasir Ali developed an online early-warning system to help people in the Himalayan region avoid dangerous encounters with wildlife.
Ali created Wildping, a free website where users report sightings of animals such as Himalayan black bears and leopards, triggering alerts to people nearby.
The 33-year-old launched the platform in October, on the first anniversary of his mother's death.
She was among at least 50 people killed, with hundreds more mauled, in wildlife attacks in the territory since 2023, according to official data.
"Since then, I have always had it in my mind that I should use my skills to develop a technology that people living in these hotspots, where such incidents occur, can use to protect themselves," Ali told AFP.
"I have gone through this pain, and I don't want anyone else to experience it," he said, as he monitored sightings in his area on the site.
Human-wildlife conflict has become a growing concern across the Himalayas, where deforestation and shrinking habitats are bringing people into closer contact with wild animals.
"It won't stop conflict by itself. It can buy a family a few minutes: keep the kids inside, skip the walk, or call for help," the site explains.
Users can set up alert zones around specific locations, and if a bear approaches, they get a warning on their telephone.
"Home, farm, school, the path kids walk: each gets a watch zone," the site explains.
- 'Help save lives' -
In Kashmir, human-wildlife conflict has been compounded by decades of conflict.
The mountain region has been divided between India and Pakistan since independence from British rule in 1947, with both countries claiming it in full. The dispute has triggered multiple wars and a long-running insurgency.
Fencing and extensive military deployments have also disrupted animal movement, potentially increasing encounters with people.
Two bear species inhabit the region: Himalayan black bears, which live in forested mountain areas, and brown bears, usually found at higher elevations. Leopards also prowl the forests.
The Himalayan black bear accounts for more than 80 percent of wildlife-related deaths and maulings in the region, according to experts.
Although crowd-sourced wildlife reporting platforms exist in other countries, Ali wanted to create one tailored to the dangers facing communities in Kashmir.
The site is available in three languages -- English, Hindi and Urdu.
Wildping has attracted around 9,000 visitors in less than a month since its launch, with hundreds of users returning regularly.
"Last week, I spotted a bear, so I immediately used the app to report the sighting," said Yasir Iqbal, 34.
"Many people in our village are now using it," he added. "It is a good and useful app that could help save lives by keeping us informed about where wild animals have been spotted."
Ali created Wildping, a free website where users report sightings of animals such as Himalayan black bears and leopards, triggering alerts to people nearby.
The 33-year-old launched the platform in October, on the first anniversary of his mother's death.
She was among at least 50 people killed, with hundreds more mauled, in wildlife attacks in the territory since 2023, according to official data.
"Since then, I have always had it in my mind that I should use my skills to develop a technology that people living in these hotspots, where such incidents occur, can use to protect themselves," Ali told AFP.
"I have gone through this pain, and I don't want anyone else to experience it," he said, as he monitored sightings in his area on the site.
Human-wildlife conflict has become a growing concern across the Himalayas, where deforestation and shrinking habitats are bringing people into closer contact with wild animals.
"It won't stop conflict by itself. It can buy a family a few minutes: keep the kids inside, skip the walk, or call for help," the site explains.
Users can set up alert zones around specific locations, and if a bear approaches, they get a warning on their telephone.
"Home, farm, school, the path kids walk: each gets a watch zone," the site explains.
- 'Help save lives' -
In Kashmir, human-wildlife conflict has been compounded by decades of conflict.
The mountain region has been divided between India and Pakistan since independence from British rule in 1947, with both countries claiming it in full. The dispute has triggered multiple wars and a long-running insurgency.
Fencing and extensive military deployments have also disrupted animal movement, potentially increasing encounters with people.
Two bear species inhabit the region: Himalayan black bears, which live in forested mountain areas, and brown bears, usually found at higher elevations. Leopards also prowl the forests.
The Himalayan black bear accounts for more than 80 percent of wildlife-related deaths and maulings in the region, according to experts.
Although crowd-sourced wildlife reporting platforms exist in other countries, Ali wanted to create one tailored to the dangers facing communities in Kashmir.
The site is available in three languages -- English, Hindi and Urdu.
Wildping has attracted around 9,000 visitors in less than a month since its launch, with hundreds of users returning regularly.
"Last week, I spotted a bear, so I immediately used the app to report the sighting," said Yasir Iqbal, 34.
"Many people in our village are now using it," he added. "It is a good and useful app that could help save lives by keeping us informed about where wild animals have been spotted."
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