Speaking at IHS CERAWEEK Conference, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Berat Albayrak announced that Turkey will accelerate upstream activities in Mediterranean. Moreover, deep sea drilling will be executed in 2017 in Mediterranean and Black Sea with the view of becoming a major energy player in the region.

FIRST DEEP SEA DRILLING IN MEDITERRENEAN
Turkey will continue seismic exploration of oil and natural gas resources in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea this year, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Berat Albayrak has stated.

"We will take steps this year toward exploring and drilling in the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea,"  Albayrak said. "After our first seismic exploration vessel Barbaros Hayreddin Paşa, our second vessel will actively conduct 2-D and 3-D seismic exploration in both of our seas," he added.

Drilling to be executed this year will be the first deep sea drilling work in Mediterranean waters.

Minister Albayrak emphasized that more than 60 percent of the world's oil and natural gas resources are located in Turkey's region, noting that the country is entering a new era, taking signifıcant steps to realize new investments in energy. "In adherence to our responsibilities as the most stable and strong country in the region, Turkey, which is surrounded by resources rich in energy, will continue to work decisively and determinedly in the upcoming period," the minister said.