Erdogan: "By 2015, Turkey will meet half of its own oil needs"

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday addressed the Fifth Turkey Energy Forum in Istanbul. Commenting on the recently released first quarter 6.6 percent growth figure, Erdogan said, "Turkey is continuing to develop on a very strong and healthy base." Pointing to the nation's growing energy demands, Erdogan said that his government had made necessary investments to meet this demand in the coming years. He said that Turkey is working to meet half of its oil needs through its own resources by 2015. Some 300,000 meters are set to be drilled between 2005 and 2010, said Erdogan, adding that over last six years, the Turkish Oil Corporation (TPAO) had made some $4.5 billion in investments both in Turkey and abroad.