Turkey outlines plans for pipeline in occupied northern Cyprus

Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said plans are under way to develop a natural gas pipeline project in the Turkish-occupied northern Cyprus, while reiterating that Turkey continues its exploration activities in the Eastern Mediterranean. Bayraktar said the state pipeline company BOTAS is conducting engineering studies for a proposed project that would transport natural gas from the area to Turkey. He said the project is focused on improving “connectivity” and could enable any gas discovered in the region to be exported to the Turkish mainland via pipeline infrastructure. He also outlined broader ambitions for Turkey’s state oil company TPAO, saying it will expand its international operations, including ongoing activity in Somalia and planned engagement in Libya.

Bayraktar added that Turkey is cooperating with Syria on minerals and hydrocarbons, including interest in certain deposits in the country’s northeast. He further said Ankara has recently signed offshore energy cooperation agreements with several major international energy firms, including ExxonMobil, Chevron, BP, Shell, TotalEnergies and Italy’s Eni, describing some of these arrangements as close to finalization, without providing additional details.