MTA reports growth in geothermal research and exploration in Türkiye in 2025
Kütahya Simav Geothermal Source TDIOSB (source: MTA)
Carlo Cariaga
7 May 2026
The MTA reports increased geothermal drilling and growth in its geothermal license portfolio in 2025, reinforcing its role in Türkiye's geothermal sector.
The General Directorate of Mineral Research and Exploration (Maden Tetkik ve Arama Genel Müdürlügü / MTA) in Türkiye has published its 2025 Activity Report, indicating growth in its geothermal license portfolio and increased activity in geothermal exploration and licensing.
According to the report, MTA’s geothermal license portfolio showed a sharp increase in 2025 from 51 to 85 fields. During the year, 38 new geothermal licenses were obtained, while only 3 licenses were abandoned and 1 field was transferred through tender. The amount of geothermal drilling also increased from 7,777 meters in 2024 to 14,285 meters in 2025. ThinkGeoEnergy had reported in detail on the activity of MTA in geothermal licensing and exploration in 2024.
While the report does not highlight any direct announcements of large-scale new geothermal exploration, it indicates that drilling, testing, and surveying activities are ongoing in existing fields. This suggests that by 2026, geothermal activity will primarily focus on exploration, verification, and field development.
On the other hand, the revenue structure of MTA from its geothermal activities is based on an indirect model. Rather than being an energy-producing entity, the institution conducts exploration and resource development activities. Within this scope, areas with identified potential are transferred to investors under the framework of the State Tender Law No. 2886, thereby transforming them into economic value.
Thanks to this model, geothermal resources contribute to the economy by being used in areas such as electricity generation, district heating, agriculture, and thermal tourism.
Overall, MTA’s performance in 2025 stands out in the geothermal sector with its increasing number of licenses, rising drilling volumes, and ongoing field development efforts. These efforts are expected to pave the way for the commissioning of new resources in the coming period.
RELATED: MTA publishes book on “Classification of Türkiye’s Geothermal Systems”
Source: MTA via our Turkish language platform JeotermalHaberler
