Turkey will be launching seismological research and drilling activities in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea this year, Energy Minister Berat Albayrak told Anadolu news agency on Thursday.
Albayrak announced that Ankara’s ship Barbaros and another research vessel would be conducting two-dimensional and three-dimensional research in both the Mediterranean and Black Sea.
“We are aiming to diversify our natural gas portfolio in the following years,” Albayrak said.
The Barbaros vessel’s activities have been the cause for Cyprus talks to freeze in the past, after it was sent to conducted research in the island’s EEZ.
In 2014, Turkey sent the vessel to Cyprus’ waters to conduct research, inciting President Nicos Anastasiades to not attend meetings with then Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu, due the infringement on the Republic of Cyprus’ sovereignty.
Talks on the Cyprus issue did not restart until 2015, when Mustafa Akinci was selected to be the Turkish Cypriot leader.
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