Turkey Seeks Oil in Somalia with Vessel Çağrı Bey
Turkey’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Alparslan Bayraktar, announced the dispatch of the drilling vessel Çağrı Bey to the coast of Somalia for oil exploration operations.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Energy, Bayraktar attended the consultative meeting of Istanbul neighborhood headmen (muhtars) in Ankara. Referring to the continuation of Turkey’s exploration activities beyond its borders, he said: “Tomorrow we will take a historic step. We are sending our drilling vessel, Çağrı Bey, from the port of Taşucu in Mersin to Somalia to search for oil there.”
Emphasizing Turkey’s goal of complete independence in the energy sector, he stated: “We are taking steps towards ending dependence on foreign resources; because energy independence will bring a more dynamic economy and a stronger treasury for our country.”
Bayraktar announced plans to double domestic gas production in the Black Sea this year, adding: “This year, through drilling operations, we will survey the entire Black Sea from Rize to Kastamonu to find new fields.”
Referring to the 99% progress in the construction of the first reactor of the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant, he said: “Our goal is to start energy production from this reactor this year. With the full commissioning of all four reactors, ten percent of the country’s electricity needs will be met. With the Sinop and Thrace projects, Turkey will achieve a prominent position in the nuclear industry.”
