TPAO to open second well in northern Cyprus

The Turkiye Petrolleri Anonim Ortakligi (TPAO) will begin work on a second oil and natural gas drilling operation in Turkish Cyprus, which will this time be on land, Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said yesterday. Yildiz held a press conference in Ankara after meeting with Turkish Cypriot Economy and Energy Minister Sunat Atun. "We will commence our second drilling operation on land. This will be a complementary drilling. Afterwards, we will begin drilling in the sea," Yildiz said. TPAO’s first drilling operation at the "Turkyurdu 1" well has yet to yield any results so far. The well is currently 4,075 meters deep and there are signs that there could be petrol down below, but there have not been any concrete findings, said Yildiz. He also stressed that it was in TPAO’s culture to be patient. Yildiz said Turkish Cyprus was rich in natural resources and that Turkey was seeking to develop a master energy plan to cover the island.