Turkey: Turkey Suspends Oil Drilling in Iraq Amid Tension

Aug 22, 2014 | Today's Zaman
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Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yıldız told reporters in Ankara on Thursday that the state-run Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) decided to suspend drilling in six oil fields that it operates in Iraq. Basra, Siba and Mansuriye are among the sites operated by the TPAO in Iraq. Turkey evacuated eight engineers and technical experts from the TPAO office in Iraq's Mansuriye oil field in June following concern for their safety after the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) advanced within the Iraqi territory.
 
“We need patience. Iraq is an important market for Turkey and the TPAO should resume work once the tension eases,” Yıldız said. The minister had said in June that the ongoing violence in Iraq is likely to boost Iraqi demand for refined-oil products from Turkey.