Turkey Challenges Cyprus Offshore Drilling Plans
Turkey has responded strongly to plans by Cyprus to start exploratory drilling for offshore gas deposits.
Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Cyprus had no right to go ahead with efforts to search for gas before a settlement to reunify the divided island will be reached.
"No one has the right to do anything over the island's natural resources ... before the Cyprus issue isn't resolved," Davutoglu told reporters. There must be an administration representing both parts of the island, he insisted.
"Turkey would show the necessary response if further steps are considered," he said, without specifying what that response would be.
Solon Kassinis, Director of the Greek Cypriot government's Energy Service, was quoted by the Cyprus Mail as suggested that drilling by Noble Energy could begin in October.
Cyprus has signed a production-sharing contract with Noble, which has a concession to explore or hydrocarbons in Block 12 which is located in Cyprus's Exclusive Economic Zone, near Israel's Leviathan discovery.
Cyprus should obtain a clear view of the size of its hydrocarbons reserves in the block in about two months after the start of drilling before the government proceeds with a second round of licensing for other blocks in the region, Kassinis said.
'The rig is in our region. It’s now drilling in Israel’s (offshore field) Noa and will reach our area at the end of September or early October,' he said and stressed that Cyprus and Israel could possibly collaborate on gas exploration in near future.
His comments come in the wake of unconfirmed reports of use of Cyprus as a transit point for Israeli gas heading towards Europe.
Noble has partnered with Delek Group and Ratio Oil Exploration in the Leviathan licence. Delek Group subsidiary Delek Energy Systems has an option to acquire 30% of Block 12.
Turkey has long opposed the Greek Cypriot government's search for offshore gas saying it disregards Turkish Cypriots' rights and would damage long-running talks aimed at reunification.