TPAO in drilling deal with Turkish Cyprus

摘要

Istanbul-Tensions over oil and gas exploration in the eastern Mediterranean have intensified further after Turkey and the internationally unrecognized Turkish Republic of North Cyprus (TRNC) signed an agreement allowing Turkey's state-owned TPAO to drill wells in areas of the Mediterranean claimed by both the TRNC and the Republic of Cyprus. If follows the start of drilling for gas by the US' Noble Energy in September offshore Cyprus, condemned by both Turkey and the TRNC as illegal while the island remains divided.