Azerbaijan, Baku, 5 February / corr Trend A.Badalova / The Turkish state company TPAO has launched a drilling well in the Saros Gulf, located in the Aegean Sea, Ihlas reported citing Hilmi Guler, the Turkish Energy Minister.
According to Mehmet Uysal, the head of the company, TPAO, jointly with Brazilian company Petrobras, concluded a seismic survey in the Turkish section of the Black Sea last year. The drilling will begin no sooner than 2009, Energy Intelligence Group.
Last year TPAO announced two tenders to carry out offshore exploration. One of them was criticized by the Cyprus authorities, who were concerned about Turkey's entry to the offshore area which is claimed by Cyprus. Earlier Turkey also protested against the tenders announced by Cyprus.