Tensions rise in the Mediterranean again: ExxonMobil begins drilling

A new development has been announced regarding ExxonMobil’s natural gas reserve drilling operations in the southwest of the Island of Cyprus, which is known to have caused serious tension between Turkey-Greece and the Greek Cypriot part of Southern Cyprus. Greek media has informed that ExxonMobil is resuming drilling operations in the region, announced as the largest natural gas reserve so far, which it suspended in 2020.

Based ın news in Turkish media, it was noted that Navtex was notified and drilling work was planned on the disputed 10th parcel between 19 November 2021 and 30 January 2022.

What had happened?

The Exxon Mobil-Qatar Petroleum consortium had made an agreement with Southern Cyprus for the right to explore for and drill for natural gas on parcel 10 in southwestern Cyprus. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey had reacted to said developments.

Fatih and Yavuz vessels were sent for drilling

In response to the Greek Cypriot moves, Turkey had sent drilling vessels named Fatih and Yavuz to the Mediterranean Sea under the protection of Turkish warships. In April 2020, ExxonMobil had decided to postpone its drilling program. ExxonMobil cited the drop in energy prices due to the corona virus outbreak as the reason for the decision.At the beginning of 2007, Southern Cyprus had announced 13 decommissioning sites and was in the process of issuing licenses to US, French, Italian and Qatari companies. In response, Turkey had granted TPAO search licenses in the regions it had designated in the north and east of the island in Northern Cyprus in its economic zone in the Eastern Mediterranean.