Turkey’s state upstream operator TPAO will start drilling for gas east of Cyprus in early July, within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) claimed by the Republic of Cyprus, an official from Turkey’s energy ministry told Platts Thursday. Receive daily email alerts, subscriber notes & personalize your experience. Register Now The official confirmed that TPAO’s drillship, the Yavuz, has been anchored off Turkey’s Mediterranean port of Antalya since Monday where it took on marine fuel, and confirmed that the vessel will depart “in a few days” for its planned drill site. The Yavuz left Istanbul June 20, with Turkish energy minister Fatih Donmez announcing in a speech that it was departing to drill east of Cyprus in the Bay of Famagusta, which is within the EEZ claimed by Cyprus, and also that claimed by the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, recognized only by Turkey. The vessel had been […]