Turkey has started preparatory works on Nov. 26 for shallow water drilling in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Mersin in southern Turkey, Turkey’s Energy Minister Fatih Dönmez confirmed.

Speaking at the launch ceremony in Mersin, on the Mediterranean coast, Dönmez said the country would continue its drilling activities for the exploration of natural gas and oil sources in the region as part of Turkey’s aim to be energy independent.

He also stated that based on the country’s current exploration licenses, Turkish engineers initially plan to open two shallow sea wells.

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