Memorandum of Understanding on Natural Gas Supply Between Türkiye and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus

On July 10 2026 Türkiye and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) signed the "Memorandum of Understanding on the Supply of Natural Gas to the TRNC". The agreement envisages the initiation of a technical legal and economic cooperation process aimed at delivering natural gas from Türkiye to the TRNC. The memorandum covers efforts to expand energy cooperation between the two countries and prepare for the development of the TRNC’s natural gas infrastructure.

The memorandum aims to initiate infrastructure works for natural gas supply between Türkiye and the TRNC conduct technical feasibility studies and enhance energy coordination between the two countries. Under the agreement engineering and planning activities are foreseen to begin for a natural gas pipeline that will connect Türkiye and the TRNC under the sea.

The memorandum establishes a framework for cooperation aimed at enhancing energy supply security developing natural gas consumption infrastructure and diversifying energy sources.

The memorandum was signed by Türkiye’s Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz and TRNC Prime Minister Ünal Üstel during a ceremony held at the TRNC Assembly in Lefkoşa. The ceremony was attended by TRNC Assembly President Ziya Öztürkler Türkiye’s Ambassador to Lefkoşa Ali Murat Başçeri and ministers and members of parliament from both countries.

Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz stated during the signing ceremony that works would begin on the natural gas pipeline to be constructed under the sea connecting Türkiye and the TRNC.

^{Cumhurbaşkanı Yardımcısı Cevdet Yılmaz, KKTC Cumhurbaşkanı Tufan Erhürman ile - 10 Temmuz, 2026 (Anadolu Ajansı)}

The project planned under the memorandum aims to transport natural gas from Türkiye to the TRNC via an undersea route. Technical details including the route capacity financing model and construction schedule are expected to be finalized in subsequent phases.

Upon completion of the natural gas pipeline the TRNC plans to add a new natural gas source to its energy infrastructure and develop the necessary facilities to increase the use of natural gas in electricity generation.

The natural gas memorandum is regarded as a continuation of energy projects developed between Türkiye and the TRNC in recent years. Previously a subsea pipeline constructed from Türkiye to the TRNC began supplying drinking and irrigation water and efforts to establish an electricity connection between the two countries have also been raised.

The TRNC administration has announced that following the natural gas pipeline it aims to implement a subsea electricity transmission cable project with Türkiye. Feasibility studies for the electricity connection have been completed and technical procedures with the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E) are ongoing.

Electricity generation in the TRNC is largely based on thermal power plants that rely on imported fossil fuels. This situation leads to high energy costs and increased dependence on external sources. Developing the necessary infrastructure to utilize natural gas for electricity production is part of broader plans to diversify energy sources.

By securing natural gas supply the TRNC aims to enable the use of alternative fuel options in electricity generation enhance the development of its energy supply infrastructure and support long-term energy planning.

The natural gas memorandum signed between Türkiye and the TRNC has been recorded as one of the projects advancing energy cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean. While Türkiye and the TRNC continue joint initiatives to develop energy infrastructure they are also addressing issues related to energy resources and regional energy corridors in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The memorandum establishes the legal framework to initiate technical preparations for the natural gas pipeline while the detailed implementation of the project is expected to be determined through future technical and administrative studies.