Photographer: Ozan Kose / AFP via Getty Images
Photographer: Ozan Kose / AFP via Getty Images
Turkey says its discovery of natural gas in the Black Sea is likely to be followed by further discoveries, which will change the geopolitics of energy trade in its region.
“It’s just the beginning,” said President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s spokesman Ibrahim Kalin of Friday’s announcement that Turkey was sinking gas deep under its territorial waters. “The work will continue for exploration and drilling at the same time. We are very hopeful that it will lead to other fields in the same area. ”
Ankara’s state oil arm TPAO will continue offshore exploration near the 320 billion cubic meter Sakarya field, where officials see “much greater potential” for hydrocarbons, Kalin said in an interview at the presidential office in Istanbul on Saturday.
Read here for more on the discovery of Turkey, the largest in the Black Sea
Black Sea Find
Turkey announces its biggest gas discovery ever
The discovery announced by Erdogan is already the largest of its kind in the Black Sea and proved the existence of large deposits deep under the seabed. Kalin said it also gave new impetus to Turkey’s search for more energy sources to function as more than just a mass consumer and a channel for cross-border gas trade.
“Turkey will be an energy-producing country. That is a new dimension, a very important one, “said Kalin.” It takes Turkey to a different level in terms of its strategic location, relations, regional and global affairs. “
| What Analysts say… |
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“Turkey is a premium gas market that has never been on a global scale. The discovery really reinforces the potential role of the country as an energy producer in the region. ” – Ashley Sherman, chief analyst at Caspian and Europe downstream at Wood Mackenzie. |
EastMed conflict
Another prospective area nearby is the eastern Mediterranean, where Turkey is conducting reconnaissance work with a seismic research vessel.
Kalin said the Oruc Cruise Ship’s inquiry will continue into waters disputed by Greece and Cyprus, a conflict that fuels tensions with Athens.
‘Whatever we find in the eastern Mediterranean, we want it to be shared by all. We want it to benefit all the neighboring countries with a wall, ”said Kalin. “We do not want to see this as a zero-sum game.”
Turkey is embroiled in territorial disputes with Greece and Cyprus in the Mediterranean, as it seeks oil and gas. France has temporarily increased its military presence to deter Turkish action, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Wednesday European Union was concerned about the increased tensions.
How tensions are rising across Mediterranean gas fields: QuickTake
Dispute Waters
Advertising competes across the eastern Mediterranean
Sources: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey; Anadolu Agency; Greek media reporting; Flanders Marine Institute
Turkey and Cyprus are facing offshore gas reserves around the Mediterranean island of Cyprus, where the Republic of Cyprus is an EU member state and officially has sovereignty over the entire island.
But the island has been effectively divided into two since the Turkish army conquered the northern third in 1974, after a coup in a military junta in Athens sought to unite Cyprus with Greece. The self-proclaimed state of the Turkish minority in the north, recognized only by Ankara, also claims rights to every energy source discovered along the coast.
Deal of Egypt-Greece
Just a month ago, Turkey and Greece were set to start exploratory talks to reduce tensions. But that came to an abrupt end after Greece signed an agreement with Egypt for maritime borders and Turkey accused Athens of mistrust.
However, Turkey says that cooperation on energy sources is possible and would benefit all species.
“We can turn the natural resources in the eastern Mediterranean into opportunities,” he said. ‘That does not mean we just keep an eye on the problems, challenges that are there. We address them. We try to find some creative ways to overcome them. ”
– With the help of Simin Demokan, and Vanessa Dezem
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