The decision was made by the American oil giant Exxon Mobil as, despite the strong reactions of Turkey, the drilling works in Plot 10 of the Cypriot EEZ begin in a few days.
The state-of-the-art Stena Ice Max drilling rig from Exxon Mobil (one of the most modern in the world) is already off Limassol and has started the preparations for the two final drillings that it will carry out inside the Cypriot EEZ.
Upon his arrival in Limassol, he did not encounter any reaction from Ankara. After all, it is a drilling rig of American interests and Ankara will weigh it twice for any challenge.
In this context, however, Recep Tayyip Erdogan returned yesterday to the provocative announcements of Turkish drilling, highlighting the fourth drilling rig recently purchased by Turkey.
"We will have four drilling ships and two seismic research ships. We will do our work in the Black Sea and especially in the Mediterranean which we call the Blue Sea with confidence. "Of course this bothers some," he told Turkish state television.
But Americans do not seem to be left with folded arms. Due to the escalating Turkish provocation and the suffocating economic problems that Turkey is facing, in order to prevent a dangerous escalation of the challenges, they wanted (according to information from military sources), to "shield" their interests in Cyprus.
The fact that the 6th US Fleet has increased its presence in the wider area of the SE Mediterranean does not cause any impression, while from the air they "scan" the area with flights (at high altitude) of American spy planes.
Warning
The US government (both the current and the previous one through Pompeo) has warned, indirectly but clearly, that it will not tolerate a violation of Cyprus' s sovereign rights and its ability to seek and exploit its energy sources.
A statement made by President Biden when he was Vice President of the United States and when he visited Cyprus hosted at the home of President Anastasiadis in Limassol.
What is so special about the Stena Ice Max drilling rig and why is it considered one of the best hired by the Americans? It can drill at great depths and in changing conditions of strong and different pressures.
The Cypriot government, committed to the implementation of International Law and the Law of the Sea, has issued a NAVTEX (from Larnaca station) informing everyone (including Turkey) that "preparatory work" will take place from 19 November to 30 January. and drilling "in the area defined by the coordinates at the location of the large deposit" Glafkos "(the name of the former president of Cyprus Glafkos Clerides was honorably given to the deposit) that had been identified in 2019 by the American company.
As for the amount of the deposit, the then vice-president of Exxon Mobil expressed his enthusiasm, since according to the first announcements, the deposit was estimated at 5-8 trillion cubic feet.
The estimates spoke of the largest deposit that had been identified in the Cypriot EEZ and for this reason the Americans are returning for a new drilling which will confirm the accurate picture of the size and quality of the deposit.
Turkey, however, does not seem to have any claims on plot 10 of the Cypriot EEZ, but it does not recognize any EEZ for Cyprus (except… Turkish Cypriots that no other state recognizes) and demands the immediate cessation of all investigations and drilling in the Cypriot EEZ even in the southern part of the island under the pretext of the interests of the Turkish Cypriots.
In this way, it essentially demands the suspension of the exercise of sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus, if it has not secured the approval of Ankara.
On hand
However, no one can discount whether or not Ankara is willing to cause a heated incident on plot 10, which is in the western part of the Cypriot EEZ, and in fact in an area where hydrocarbon exploration will be carried out by an American giant.
Nicosia and Athens, however, are on standby, coordinating their movements and calmly monitoring the whole situation. Some, however, believe that it is unlikely that the Exxon Mobil ships will be harassed, as was the case with the Italian EMI drilling rig.
However, Ankara can send either a research ship or a drilling rig (it recently bought a fourth drilling rig) to Plot 6 of the Cyprus EEZ, where the "Kalypso" deposit has been located by the TOTAL / ENI consortium. In this way he can try to impose on another plot within the Cypriot EEZ.
That is why Athens and Nicosia are on standby and consider it certain that if Ankara finally dares such a challenge is very likely to cause a serious crisis in Euro-Turkish relations again (the measures against it are already on the table in Brussels) and of course a reaction. both France and Washington. It is noted that lately a French frigate has an almost permanent anchorage in Limassol.
in.gr