Tüpraş (Türkiye Petrol Rafinerileri A.Ş.)
Oil & Gas Refining
Tüpraş, Turkey's only oil refiner, was established in 1983 when the Turkish state consolidated its four refineries into a single company, and was privatized in 2005-2006 with the Koç Holding-Shell consortium acquiring a majority stake. The company operates four refineries at İzmit, İzmir, Kırıkkale and Batman with a combined crude oil processing capacity of around 28 million tonnes per year, making it the largest refinery operator in the Mediterranean region and one of the largest in Europe. Tüpraş is the dominant supplier of refined products to the Turkish market, covering roughly 60-70 percent of national demand for gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, LPG and fuel oil.
Beyond refining, Tüpraş has transformed into a broader energy company. It operates a substantial petrochemicals joint venture, STAR Rafineri in İzmir, and has announced a major green-hydrogen and renewable fuels strategy, aiming to produce sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel from vegetable oils and waste feedstocks by the early 2030s. The company holds a strong position in marine fuels at Turkish ports, operates extensive product pipelines and storage terminals, and is investing in digitalization, energy efficiency and carbon capture research. Tüpraş employs about 4,500 people directly and supports a large downstream network of distributors and retail stations across Turkey.
For international suppliers, Tüpraş is a significant buyer of crude oil, catalysts, refinery chemicals, specialty equipment and maintenance services. Its refineries operate complex configurations capable of processing multiple crude grades, which drives continuous demand for catalysts from companies such as BASF and Haldor Topsoe, and for high-specification rotating equipment, heat exchangers and instrumentation. The company's procurement is centralized in İzmit, runs formal tender processes, and follows international quality standards including ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001. As Turkey's strategic energy asset and a gateway between Europe, the Middle East and the Black Sea, Tüpraş offers long-term, high-volume procurement opportunities for refinery technology and service providers.
