Yildiz hopeful for drilling activities in Hakkari

Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said over the weekend that exploratory oil drilling may begin as early as next year in the southeastern province of Hakkari, where they have been unable to bring oil, copper and zinc beds into economy due to terrorist activities. "I have set up a special team for the southeast Anatolian region. We won't allow this. We will carry out drilling activities in Hakkari along with security units just to spite terrorism," Yildiz said. Yildiz reiterated that domestic and foreign companies had approximately 30 licenses for oil drilling in the Hakkari and Sirnak region, and those companies were willing to carry out drilling activities there and thus they would initiate their activities in spring.