Ankara revives Mediterranean energy plans
Turkey is planning to construct a gas pipeline to the occupied areas of Cyprus, Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said on Wednesday.
Speaking to journalists, Bayraktar said Ankara has not abandoned its energy ambitions in the Mediterranean, despite past unsuccessful drilling efforts.
“We have not given up on the Mediterranean,” he said, adding that Turkey previously carried out nine deep-sea drillings without achieving the same results as its Black Sea natural gas discoveries.
Cyprus gas pipeline under study
“In a new project, we are working on a natural gas pipeline to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus,” he said, adding that state pipeline operator Botas is carrying out engineering studies.
He added that Turkey ultimately aims to transport gas to its own network via a Cyprus gas pipeline, describing “connectivity” as a key priority.
“God willing, we can later supply the gas we find there to Turkey via a pipeline,” he said.
Energy and regional tensions
The proposed gas pipeline to Cyprus revives long-standing political and energy disputes in the Eastern Mediterranean, where competing projects have struggled to gain momentum.
Previous plans such as the EastMed pipeline, which aimed to transport gas from the Levantine Basin via Cyprus and Greece to Europe, lost political and commercial backing in recent years.
The United States withdrew support in 2022, citing environmental concerns and economic viability issues, while energy companies showed limited interest.
Turkey’s wider energy strategy
Bayraktar also highlighted ongoing efforts in the Black Sea, where Turkey has made major natural gas discoveries, shifting its focus toward domestic production.
Despite this shift, he said exploration in the Mediterranean will continue alongside plans for a gas pipeline to Cyprus.
Akkuyu nuclear project progress
The minister also addressed the Akkuyu nuclear power plant, located on Turkey’s southern coast near Cyprus, confirming that financing issues have been resolved with Russian support.
He said the first reactor is expected to come online this year, with a second to follow next year. The plant will eventually include four reactors, each producing 1,114 megawatts of electricity.
Longstanding energy geopolitics
Discussions about a gas pipeline and regional interconnections date back several years, including proposals for energy links between Cyprus and Turkey raised after the collapse of earlier EastMed ambitions.
While past initiatives stalled due to political and economic constraints, Ankara’s latest statements signal renewed focus on bilateral energy connectivity.
Also read: Karahasan: “Larnaca and Limassol have become a district of Israel”
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