An ENI drilling ship blocked
by the Turkish navy off the southern coast of Cyprus for two
weeks is leaving to carry out "other activities" for the Italian
energy giant, Cypriot Energy Minister Giorgos Lakkotrypis said
Friday.
The Saipem 12000 ship leased by ENI is now off the Cypriot
port of Limassol for refuelling and will shortly leave for other
drilling work, he told a local TV station.
On Tuesday the Turkish navy extended through March 10 its
Navtex notice of military activity off Cyprus in the eastern
Mediterranean, which has been blocking passage of the Saipem
12000, Cypriot media said.
The block has been preventing the ship from reaching the area
planned for exploration through a license granted by the
government in Nicosia.
Nicosia has denounced the presence of the Turkish Navy in its
"exclusive economic zone" as a violation of international law.
Turkey, however, does not recognise the exclusive sovereignty
of Cyprus and insists on the right of the Turkish-Cypriot
community to divide the island's natural resources.
In recent days, government sources in Nicosia said the Saipem
12000 wouldn't be able to remain waiting in the area if the
Turkish naval block were to be extended, because it is committed
to other activities planned off the coast of Morocco in the
month of March.
Based on estimates by industry professionals, costs to rent
the drilling ship can reach a half-million euros per day.
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