, a state recognized only by Ankara, a senior official from Turkey's state-run oil company said Tuesday.){kind=link}
Turkey is preparing to expand its energy exploration efforts to waters off the coast of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC), a state recognized only by Ankara, a senior official from Turkey’s state-run oil company said Tuesday.
Muhammet Fatih Ayyıldız, head of research and development at the Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO), told the state-run Anadolu news agency that offshore activities near northern Cyprus are expected to begin soon as part of Turkey’s wider strategy to secure energy resources.
“We are planning to start activities soon in the KKTC and off the coast of Libya,” Ayyıldız told Anadolu during an energy summit in Turkey’s western Bursa province.
He said the expansion aligns with ongoing efforts under the guidance of the Energy and Natural Resources Ministry to reduce the country’s dependence on energy imports.
Turkey’s plans for drilling or seismic surveys near the divided island are likely to draw criticism from the Republic of Cyprus and the European Union, which have opposed previous exploration by Ankara in contested waters.
The Republic of Cyprus, an EU member, has exclusive economic zone claims around the island, which Turkey does not recognize.
Ankara supports the KKTC and insists that Turkish Cypriots are entitled to a share of the island’s natural resources.
Ayyıldız said Turkey currently operates four drilling ships and two seismic vessels.
He noted that the seismic ship Oruç Reis is conducting deep-sea surveys off the coast of Somalia, while the Barbaros Hayrettin Paşa is active in the Black Sea.
Turkey also signed recent energy cooperation deals with Somalia and Pakistan, he said.
Ayyıldız added that activity is underway in countries including Azerbaijan, Iraq and Russia.
He said discussions are ongoing with several African nations for future exploration agreements.