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Cyprus, gas, Turkey, Turkish Cypriots

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President Demetris Christofias

ANKARA said yesterday it has begun seismic surveys for hydrocarbons in Mediterranean waters, as the government offered to share with Turkish Cypriots the proceeds from gas finds prior to a political settlement.

Turkey’s announcement of oceanographic explorations came a day after it signed an agreement delineating its maritime borders with the north’s breakaway regime.

Turkey’s Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said the surveys would be carried out by CGG Veritas, a French-based geophysical services company. The offshore surveys would take place off Antalya (Turkey) and Cyprus, he noted.

In response to a reporter’s question, Yildiz said it was possible that some of the areas under the maritime borders agreement with the breakaway north might overlap with offshore areas designated by the Republic of Cyprus. If necessary, surveys would be conducted there too, he added.

Greek Cypriots and their US partner Noble Energy started drilling south of the island for gas this week, incurring the wrath of Turkey, which says such a move deprives Turkish Cypriots of their right to a share of the proceeds.

However, speaking in New York yesterday, President Demetris Christofias said he wanted both Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities to benefit from any find.

"My message to Turkey and to the Turkish Cypriots is to find a solution as soon as possible, but as President I guarantee that even before a solution... that if we have revenue, we will see in which way we can use the revenues for the benefit of the two communities. That must be very clear," Christofias said.

The comments marked a softening of the stance adopted by the government; until now authorities had said Turkish Cypriots would share in the wealth only subsequent to a political settlement. Ankara accuses Greek Cypriots of undermining peace talks with their energy plans.

"If Turkey indeed wishes to see the Turkish Cypriot community reap benefits from this gift of nature to Cyprus, it must convince Mr [Dervis] Eroglu to conclude an agreement," Christofias said, referring to the Turkish Cypriot leader.

Earlier in the week, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan also said that seismic surveys would take place in the south (of the island) if necessary.

CGG Veritas confirmed yesterday that it had been contracted by the Turkish Petroleum Corporation TPAO to carry out seismic surveys in the Mediterranean, but stressed these would take place in “entirely undisputed waters.”

Though declining to name the precise location of the surveys, Hovey Cox, Vice-President Group Communications for CGG Veritas, said: “TPAO has been very clear with us that they would not ask us to work in disputed waters,” Cox told the Cyprus Mail.

Cox did say that a vessel of CGG Veritas’ fleet has been outfitted and that seismic surveys are underway in the same “undisputed waters.”

Earlier in the week, reports spoke of a ship that was poised to set sail from Norway and headed for the Mediterranean.

Media reports meanwhile said a Turkish oceanographic research ship, the Piri Reis, was seaborne and expected to approach the island last night or today. 

TPAO’s website likewise makes no mention of Cyprus or areas close to the island, noting that “exploration activities in the Mediterranean are carried out in the Antalya, Mersin and ?skenderun offshore areas.

“The negotiations are still continuing with major oil companies. Additionally, TPAO is planning to start the farm-out activities at the final quarter of 2011 for Mersin and ?skenderun bays,” the website says.

International relations expert Christos Iacovou downplayed the Turkish actions.

“Turkey is making noises, but that’s about it. I don’t believe any serious company would get involved in explorations in contested areas.

“After being rebuffed last week by the international community, particularly the United States, they are now looking to save face by giving the impression that they won’t back down in the Mediterranean.”

Asked about the possibility of Turkish exploration overlapping with the Republic’s Exclusive Economic Zone, Iacovou said it all depends on how the Turkish side defines the breakaway regime’s territorial waters.

“That is probably why the statements about exploring waters close to Cyprus have so far been vague,” he said.

Iacovou said also that the agreement between the north and Turkey lacked legitimacy, and predicted that Turkey would not even “dare” to submit the agreement to the United Nations.

Meanwhile exploratory drilling for hydrocarbons in Cyprus’ ‘Block 12’ continued unabated yesterday.

Energy Services director Solon Kassinis said Turkish ships were observing the ‘Homer Ferrington’ platform from a distance.

Drilling would continue to the depth of around 5.8km below sea level, Kassinis said.

During this time samples will be taken from the bedrock and analysed for their hydrocarbon content and quality.

Energy officials say Cypriot reserves could amount to trillions of cubic feet of natural gas.

“Block 12 is good, but not the best one… so the best is yet to come,” said Kassinis.