Turkey could expand drilling in eastern Mediterranean amid territorial dispute

Turkish Energy Minister Fatih Dönmez has said that Turkey may drill more boreholes in its search for gas in the eastern Mediterranean. "Time will tell, but we are hopeful. We evaluate that there is a potential," he said.

Monday May 24 2021 03:18 pm

Reuters

Turkey may drill more boreholes in its search for gas in the eastern Mediterranean, Energy Minister Fatih Dönmez said on May 24, an area where its search and drilling operations led to a standoff with Greece and Cyprus last year.

Turkey has already opened eight boreholes in the region, Dönmez said, adding that while there were signs of natural gas, there had been no economically significant discovery.

"Our experts are checking data after each drill with the seismic data obtained previously. We could have several more drills close to the ones [boreholes] where we see signs of gas," he told broadcaster A Haber.

"Time will tell, but we are hopeful. We evaluate that there is a potential," he said.

Tensions flared between Turkey and EU members Greece and Cyprus over energy resources and jurisdiction in the eastern Mediterranean in August, when both Turkish and Greek navy frigates escorted exploration vessels.

EU leaders in March made good on a 2016 promise to deepen trade ties with Turkey, but also warned Ankara to expect sanctions if it restarts energy exploration in the eastern Mediterranean.

Delivery from a natural gas reserve in the Black Sea, Turkey's largest historical discovery, is expected to begin in 2023.

If the gas can be commercially extracted, the discovery could transform Turkey's dependence on Russia, Iran and Azerbaijan for energy imports.