Oil and gas exploration in forests,national parks to be legal in Turkey

The Turkish parliament has ratified a bill that authorises oil and gas exploration in the country's forests and national parks, CNN Turk TV channel said on Friday.

According to the bill, Turkey will be divided according to the hydrocarbon reserves into 18 areas. According to the bill, one-eighth of oil produced in Turkey will be a state share.

This bill is designed to expand the exploration and development of oil fields in Turkey.

Earlier, according to a report of the Turkish Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) discovered 11 oil wells and six natural gas wells in the country during the exploration of new oil and gas fields in 2012.

In total, some 56 wells were drilled during the period of which 54 are onshore and two offshore.

According to the report, at present seven wells are being drilled. Eight oil fields were discovered in the south-eastern part of the country as of 2012.

Turkey is actively searching for oil fields to reduce dependence on oil product supplies from abroad.


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