The Founding Actor of Türkiye's Petroleum Geology: Cevat Eyüp Taşman and National Energy Legacy

Abstract. This article analyses the foundational role of Cevat Eyüp Taşman (1893–1956), Türkiye’s first petroleum geologist, by examining how his advanced education in the USA and his professional experience in international oil companies equipped him to become the "critical human capital" for Republican Türkiye. Based on archival documents and primary sources, the study scrutinizes the period from his initial engagement in 1929 until his death in 1956, framing his contributions through the key transformations he spearheaded: the intellectual transformation through systematic field research and scientific publications; the structural transformation via the institutionalization of petroleum exploration within MTA and PDR; and the operational-legal transformation, materialized with the landmark Raman-1 discovery in 1940 and his pivotal contributions to the Petroleum Law No. 6326 in 1954. The research positions Taşman not merely as a technical expert but as a "public intellectual" who integrated scientific knowledge with national development goals. Consequently, his legacy is evaluated on four foundational pillars – technical, institutional, legal, and intellectual – which collectively underscore his enduring impact on Türkiye's pursuit of energy independence.