NOTIZIARIO DI CIPRO NORD
Venerdì, Aprile 27, 2012 n. 68
LEFKOSA - Ufficio di Promozione e Informazione
Ente del ministero Esteri di Cipro Nord
DRILLING FOR OIL AND NATURAL GAS STARTS
The historical step was taken regarding land drilling for oil and natural gas in the TRNC. Drilling was kick started with a well called “Türkyurdu-1” near the village of Sýnýrüstü with a ceremony yesterday.
Turkey’s state-run oil company TPAO (Turkish Petroleum Company) which will execute the exploration activities according to the agreement signed last year between Turkey and the TRNC on the delineation of the continental shelf between two countries in the East Mediterranean, plans to drill as deep as 3.000 meters at the well which was named Turkyurdu-1 and the exploration is estimated to continue up to six months.
President Derviþ Eroðlu, Prime Minister Ýrsen Küçük, Turkey’s Ambassador to Nicosia Halil Ýbrahim Akça, Turkish Peace Forces Command Lieutenant General Adem Huduti, Commander of the Security Forces Major General Mehmet Daysal, Minister of Economy and Energy Sunat Atun, Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Taner Yýldýz, Chief Executive of TPAO Mehmet Uysal and some ministers and MPs attended to the ceremony held yesterday.
Speaking at the ceremony President Derviþ Eroðlu said starting drilling with “Turkyurdu-1” is another historical step that has been taken for the TRNC and added that bringing water, electricity, oil and natural gas would make important contribution for the development of the TRNC economy.
Eroglu said, “The exploration shows that we shall never cease the struggle for economic, political and social existence on this island.”
Addressing the participants during the ceremony Prime Minister Irsen Kucuk said “As Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, we will use the gains from such projects, to improve the environment for a settlement on the island”
The Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Taner Yýldýz also said the drilling activities for exploration of oil and natural resources in the TRNC would be a justification of peace in Cyprus.
“I believe that this work will be a ground for peace in the island. Energy which is a reason for war in the world will be a reason for peace here”, said Taner Yýldýz expressing belief that these studies would also strengthen the country’s economy.
Explaining that they placed high importance on drilling because of strategic and technical reasons Yýldýz said: “There might not be natural gas in this well, but the drilling would reveal the whole geological map of the TRNC”.
A press conference was held in the afternoon at Kaya Artemis Hotel in Bafra, for the start of drilling at Türkyurdu 1 well in Sýnýrüstü region. Prime Minister Ýrsen Küçük, Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Taner Yýldýz, Turkish Ambassador to Lefkosa Halil Ýbrahim Akça, Minister of Economy and Energy Sunat Atun, and Board Chairman and Director General of the Turkish Petroleum Corporation Mehmet Uysal attended the press conference.
Speaking at the press conference Taner Yýldýz stressed that there was a possibility to find oil in the TRNC and said: “If we didn’t believe, we wouldn’t start”.
Stating that it would be more realistic to say that petrol might be found or not Yýldýz said this work is long-term and required patience.
For his part, Prime Minister Küçük pointed out that natural resources in Cyprus belonged to both peoples on the island and should be found and evaluated jointly. Reminding that the TRNC started drilling activities following the Greek Cypriot side’s unilateral actions Prime Minister Küçük said in the event of finding oil and natural gas as a result of these activities, the Turkish Cypriot side was ready to use this for the benefit of both peoples following a solution in the island.
Minister of Economy and Energy Sunat Atun draw attention to the fact that following the supply of water and electricity from Turkey and in the event of finding petrol, the TRNC would become an “energy base”.
Referring to the natural gas found by the Greek Cypriot side Atun said the best and the most economic way for them would be to use the TRNC and Turkey route and that for this reason the Greek Cypriot administration would have to cooperate with the TRNC and Turkey in the future.
Board Chairman and Director General of the Turkish Petroleum Corporation Mehmet Uysal for his part stated that in the event of reaching a positive outcome as a result of the studies at “Türkyurdu 1” and other seismic studies, total of 400 million US Dollars would be spent.
