Insights on Gabar Oil Reserves from PKK MP and Şırnak Chamber of Commerce
Mohammed Zaki Irmaz, a Member of Parliament from the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), expressed concerns regarding the oil extraction in the Gabar region, following recent government announcements about significant oil reserves.
Irmaz noted that the government has long indicated the potential for substantial oil reserves in Gabar. “Two ministers have previously addressed this issue, stating the current production level at 78,000 barrels per day, with similar claims made earlier,” he stated.
While acknowledging the extraction activities, he raised alarms about what he perceives as rampant exploitation of the area, warning that such actions could lead to significant environmental degradation.
In early May 2023, the Turkish government made an announcement regarding the discovery of an oil field in the Gabari region within Şırnak province. Since this declaration, local residents have been vocal about their demands for services and benefits arising from the oil discovery.
“The villagers in the Gabar region have witnessed the looting of their properties, as the area is surrounded by old villages that have also been affected. Workers in the region frequently report long working hours of 12 to 14 hours each day to boost oil extraction rates,” said Irmaz.
He pointed out that while 3,000 workers are reportedly involved in the extraction process, a substantial number of them have come from other regions, such as Samsur and Batman, rather than from Şırnak itself.
On the subject of oil transportation, Irmaz mentioned the government’s plan to channel Gabar oil to the port of Ceyhan, highlighting the installation of a 38-kilometer pipeline that connects the oil field to the existing pipeline network extending from Kirkuk.
Irmaz expressed skepticism regarding government promises to create jobs, given the current unemployment crisis affecting 120,000 local youth. “Unfortunately, many young individuals are migrating to urban areas seeking employment opportunities, as there is a pressing need for factories or substantial industrial operations in Turkey,” he remarked, advocating for the establishment of a refinery in the region.
Industry Perspective: Chamber of Commerce Advocates for Growth
Osman Galish, president of the Şırnak Chamber of Industry and Commerce, emphasized the need for further development stemming from the oil extraction activities. “With the government report confirming the extraction of 78,000 barrels, our goal is to increase local employment opportunities to9500 young workers,” he stated.
Galish compared the oil production process to nurturing a tree that will yield fruit after several years, underlining the potential for economic growth that the industry presents.
On March 7, 2025, Turkey’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Alparslan Bayraktar, confirmed that daily production from the Gabar oil field had indeed reached 78,000 barrels.
Future Prospects for the Gabar Oil Field
Minister Bayraktar, during a visit to Şırnak on December 1, expressed ambitions to scale production to 100,000 barrels per day from Gabar, commending the workforce for their contributions to reaching significant output levels.
It is worth noting that Turkey’s oil fields are generally not abundant, being concentrated mainly in the Şırnak, Samsur, Eliya, and Amed provinces. The output from these fields fulfills only a minor portion of the country’s domestic oil requirements.
