Fatih Dönmez

Turkey will launch a second drilling vessel on Thursday that will begin natural gas operations near Cyprus at the beginning of July, Turkish Energy Minister Fatih Donmez was quoted as saying on Tuesday.

Highlighting Ankara's intentions in the Eastern Mediterranean, Turkish Energy Minister Fatih Donmez said Monday that the Yavuz vessel will be ready set sail to the area in July in order to begin drilling activities.
He added that the Yavuz is set join the Fatih drillship, which is currently illegally located in Cyprus' exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

In a sign that Ankara is further ratcheting up tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean, Turkish Energy Minister Fatih Donmez suggested that the country's plans to start drilling off Cyprus are within its sovereign rights, calling on "all sides to respect the research and drilling exercises within our continental shelf."

Turkey would not allow fait accompli over the natural resources in the eastern Mediterranean, Energy Minister Fatih Dönmez has said, adding that the new search efforts would be a "game changer."

Turkey is about to obtain results from drilling activities for resources carried out by the Fatih vessel in the Mediterranean Sea, Energy and National Resources Minister Fatih Dönmez has said.

Amid growing concern over Turkey's activities around Cyprus, the country's energy minister said on Friday that Ankara will send a second drillship to the Eastern Mediterranean around February 20. 

Energy and Natural Resources Minister Fatih Dönmez has said trees were not cut down for a nuclear power plant project which is planned to be built in the Black Sea province of Sinop, but were cut for "industrial use."

Turkey has started preparatory works on Nov. 26 for shallow water drilling in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Mersin in southern Turkey, Turkey's Energy Minister Fatih Dönmez confirmed.

Turkey has shaken hands with the World Bank for a $200 million resource for energy efficient investments in the public sector, Energy Minister Fatih Dönmez has said.

Turkey has been granted a waiver of around 25 percent on U.S. oil sanctions against Iran, Turkish Energy Minister Fatih Dönmez said on Nov. 9, amounting to around three million tons of oil annually.