ANKARA (Reuters) – Turkey’s president has announced the discovery of an additional 58 billion cubic meters of natural gas in the Black Sea.
“Our drill ship Fatih has explored 58 billion cubic meters of natural gas reserves, 3,023 meters under the sea, at the Caycuma 1 block,” said President Recep Tayyip Erdogan following a cabinet meeting at the Presidential Complex in Ankara.
Stressing that Turkey’s natural gas reserve in the Black Sea totals 710 billion cubic meters (25 trillion cubic feet) with a market value of $1 trillion, Erdogan said the country’s ultimate goal is to declare energy independence in oil and natural gas as soon as possible.
“Our new exploration will pave the way for similar explorations in other geological fields adjacent to the region. We will launch new drilling as soon as possible,” Erdogan added.
On the country’s counterterrorism efforts, Erdogan announced that Turkey “will close the gaps in our 30-kilometer (18.6-mile) deep security line and take new steps to completely eliminate the threats posed to our country.”
“We will enter a new phase of struggle that will destroy the entire infrastructure and resources of the terrorist group (PKK and YPG/PKK), which it receives strength from, as well as its armed capacity,” he said.