Turkey Set To Drill For Gas, Oil Offshore Famagusta

Turkey's Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) is set to start drilling for offshore oil and gas in Famagusta in around three months, said Energy Minister Taner Yildiz speaking from Turkish-held Kyrenia.

"We will open wells according to indications in the geological data and plan to go as deep as 3,000 meters for the first well," he said in comments reported by Today's Zaman.

The drilling is outside a recently-signed agreement with Shell which is set to start exploring off the coast of Antalya.

Turkey has controlled the coastline along the occupied area of Famagusta since 1974 when it invaded the island and enforced a de facto split between the island's main communities.

The political decision to start exploring for offshore gas and oil was triggered by the Cyprus government's agreement with US company Noble Energy, which has a license to explore for undersea gas in Block 12 of the island's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

Turkey's exploration for natural resources in Cyprus waters is being made with the thinnest of excuses in which it claims to be protecting the rights of the Turkish-Cypriot community.

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