Special to WorldTribune.com

ANKARA — Turkey has intensified exploration for shale energy.

Officials said the Turkish Energy Ministry has been drafting plans for intensified exploration and development of shale.

The officials said several areas of Turkey were already determined to contain large amounts of shale in cooperation with Royal Dutch Shell.

“We have already undertaken a series of shale gas exploration activities around Turkey,” Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said. “For example we have been drilling below 3,000 meters with Shell in the eastern city of Diyarbakir, and planning such activities in the Thrace Basin.”

On June 18, Yildiz said Shell was working with the state-owned Turkish
Petroleum Corp. in exploring for shale gas in Saribugday-1 natural gas field
in September 2012. He cited a huge potential of shale gas reserves in the
central Anatolian cities of Ankara, Konya and Nevsehir.

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