TİGEM General Manager Halis Bilden, speaking to the Anatolia news agency, revealed that the directorate’s Higher Planning Council (YPK) was about to decide on the leasing of four fields to the private sector for a period of 30 years, adding that they would hold an auction for the fields, located in the provinces of Sakarya, Çanakkale, Muş and Iğdır. He added that the government was willing to work with both domestic and foreign firms in these auctions. Speaking on these potential leases, Bilden predicted that they would bring $1 billion in investments.
Speaking on other fields that TİGEM previously leased in 2003, he revealed that the 13 fields currently leased to the private sector were supposed to invest TL 163 million in their first five to 10 years, but that this number had reached TL 200 million already. He added that the fields in question would be fit for private-sector interests looking to invest in animal husbandry.
Regarding foreign investors, Bilden stated that negotiations with foreign companies to lease, not buy, the fields were currently going smoothly, and that they would most likely reach a conclusion in the first half of this year.
