Turkey is preparing to launch new offshore energy exploration activities near the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC) and off the coast of Libya, a senior official from the state-run Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) said on Tuesday.
Speaking to the state-run Anadolu Agency during an energy summit in Bursa, TPAO’s Head of Research and Development Muhammet Fatih Ayyıldız said the new exploration efforts are part of a broader national strategy to reduce dependence on energy imports.
“We are planning to start activities soon in the KKTC and off the coast of Libya,” Ayyıldız said, adding that the initiatives are being carried out under the guidance of the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources.
The move is expected to reignite tensions with the Republic of Cyprus and the European Union, which have previously condemned Turkey’s exploration in contested maritime zones. While the Republic of Cyprus claims exclusive rights over offshore resources around the island, Turkey does not recognize these claims and supports the KKTC’s right to a share of the island’s natural wealth.
Ayyıldız also noted that Turkey currently operates four drilling ships and two seismic vessels. The Oruç Reis is conducting deep-sea surveys off the coast of Somalia, while the Barbaros Hayrettin Paşa is operating in the Black Sea.
In addition to its activities in the Eastern Mediterranean, Turkey has signed recent energy cooperation agreements with Somalia and Pakistan. Ayyıldız said ongoing projects in Azerbaijan, Iraq, and Russia continue, and discussions are underway with several African nations for future energy exploration deals.
