Alkagesta completes Energy Petrol acquisition, strengthens management team

Malta-based global commodity trading house Alkagesta on Monday (9 November) said it is strengthening Energy Petrol’s management structure, after completing the acquisition of the Turkish marine fuel supplier this month. 

With the transfer of shares finalised, the management structure of the Energy Petrol has been strengthened with two senior appointments.

Taha Karakan, who joined Alkagesta in October 2024, will oversee the Alkagesta Turkiye marine distribution activities as Managing Director- Marine Fuels Distribution, Turkiye, including strategic and commercial oversight of Energy Petrol as part of Alkagesta’s international marine fuels portfolio.

Karakan brings extensive experience across international marine fuel trading, cargo supply and physical bunkering operations. 

Prior to joining Alkagesta, he held commercial and trading positions at Bunker Holding, the world’s largest marine fuel trading and bunkering company, where he was involved in marine fuel trading, physical supply operations and cargo supply management.

Aydın Yıldız has been appointed as Marine Sales Director of Energy Petrol, bringing more than 20 years of maritime, technical, commercial and executive leadership experience to the Turkish business.

Yıldız worked at Petrol Ofisi from 2015 to 2025, most recently as Head of Marine Sales, holding full commercial and strategic responsibility for a marine fuels business with annual sales volumes of approximately over one million metric tonnes consistently in the past several years.

During his tenure, he led five commercial and operational departments and a team of 20 professionals, overseeing a nationwide marine fuel supply network, a fleet of 20 supply vessels and more than 10 marine fuel stations. The business held the leading position in the Turkish marine fuels market throughout that period, with a market share of approximately 39%.

He began his professional career at sea as a Marine Engineer, progressing to Chief Engineer before transitioning into senior commercial leadership roles.

“Together, Karakan and Yıldız will bring complementary leadership strengths to Energy Petrol, combining Alkagesta’s international trading network and global bunkering capabilities with deep knowledge of the Turkish market and extensive local commercial expertise,” the company said. 

Founded in 1997, Energy Petrol is the third-largest physical marine fuel supplier in the port of Istanbul and will continue to operate under its established brand. The acquisition includes eight bunkering vessels and a long-term lease of 28,000 cubic metres of tank capacity at the terminal in Gebze, marking Alkagesta’s first move into vessel ownership.

Related: Alkagesta to add eight bunkering vessels through Energy Petrol acquisition

Photo credit: Alkagesta
Published: 10 November, 2026