Geopolitical Stakes Are Huge On This Tiny Island - OILPRICE.COM

Dec 08, 2018, 11:59 PM CST

Damir Kaletovic

The specter of a rumored U.S. military buildup in Cyprus that would draw a major Russian response now adds to the ongoing Greek Cypriot-Turkish conflict over the island and the oil and gas riches it promises.

Ever since the massive hydrocarbon discovery in Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in 2011 by American company Noble Energy the island has been the center of a geopolitical game that doesn’t stop with rife tensions between Turkey and the Greek Cypriots.

And now this game is drawing nearer to its climax, with much at stake.

Cyprus--an island in the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea—is divided into the Greek-dominated Republic of Cyprus in the south and the Turkish-controlled north. Since 2004, the Republic of Cyprus has been a member of the European Union, and the northern ‘entity’ remains recognized solely by Turkey.

But it is the EEZ—the exclusive economic zone—where this geopolitical game of chess is being played out.

Putin says TurkStream Gas Pipeline Could be Extended via Greece - ASIAN OIL & GAS

Friday, 07 December 2018 04:19

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that the TurkStream gas pipeline could be extended further into Europe via Greece, as he met Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras in Moscow.

The first line of TurkStream, which runs from Russia to Turkey via the Black Sea bed, is intended for Turkish consumption only. Russia has said that a second line will also end in Turkey and Europe must choose the route and build the extension itself.

Several routes, including via Greece and Bulgaria, are under consideration.

"We are ready for implementation of large-scale infrastructure energy projects jointly with Greece. This is also about connecting southern Europe to TurkStream via Greece," Putin said at a joint briefing with Tsipras in Moscow.

Gazprom is building TurkStream to bypass Ukraine, the key route used to ship Russian gas to Europe, amid political tension.

Its two lines will each have a capacity of 15.75 billion cubic metres of gas per year, with the first due to be operational by the end of 2019. 

Reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin and Polya Ivanova; Editing by Kirsten Donovan

Egypt to test-run Giza, Fayoum gas fields - MENAFN

December 6, 2018, 8:56:59 AM

Egypt was announced to have decided to test-run Giza and Fayoum fields before this month ends, as part of a plan to boost natural gas output from deep waters.

The trial is to be launched with Egypt aiming to produce an average of 700 million cubic feet of gas a day from the fields by the first quarter of next year.

Since June this year, Egypt was able to see a 10 percent jump in its natural gas production to reach 6.6 billion cubic feet a day.

This increase was recorded after Egypt imposed hikes on production at Zohr offshore gas field for it to stand at 2 billion cubic feet per day.

The country is looking to see its gas production surge to hit 6.75 billion cubic feet per day before this year comes to an end, with a target to turn into an energy hub.

Use of LNG ‘a one-way street’, EAC boss says - CYPRUS MAIL

December 5, 2018 

Gregoris Savva

The use of liquified natural gas (LNG) for electricity generation is the only option for Cyprus to diversify its energy mix and avoid stricter fines on emissions from power generation, the chairman of the electricity authority (EAC) Andreas Marangos has said.

In an interview with CNA, Marangos said the EAC was ready for the two major challenges, namely the liberalisation of the electricity market and the use of natural gas for electricity generation.

He acknowledged that fluctuations in electricity bills which often cause reaction from the public and businesses but are “a reality” dependent on international oil prices, as 90 per cent of power generation is dependent on imported liquid fuel.

“The way to have lower and more stable prices is the introduction of natural gas in energy generation. A reduction in the electricity bills will depend on the natural gas purchase price but also on the introduction of solar plants and renewable source of energy to the system,” he said, as the Cyprus Natural Gas Company has launched a call for tenders for LNG import terminal.

Government dismisses reports on EastMed pipeline as baseless - KATHIMERINI / KNEWS

04 December 2018 - 09:47

The Government has dismissed reports that question the viability of the EastMed pipeline. The proposed EastMed pipeline will transfer natural gas from the Eastern Mediterranean to Europe. Commentators have argued that the project is not economically viable, given the distances and depth involved, pointing out that the final price of the Cypriot natural gas would not be competitive.

Government Spokesman Prodromos Prodromou said on Monday that the reports were baseless, adding that when the necessary consultations will be concluded there will be an agreement among the participating states on the pipeline.

“Results will be announced officially once they have been reached,” he told the press.

Asked about ExxonMobil’s exploratory drill in block 10 of Cyprus Exclusive Economic Zone and the US’ reported intention to build a gas terminal in Cyprus, the Government Spokesman said that “the works proceed normally as the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Energy have established on - site”.

He said that the Government will not decide a priori or preclude any possibility with regard to the commercial exploitation of the gas fields and that the best decisions will be made depending on the technical and economic data.

IEC seeks Tamar, Leviathan bids for NIS 2b gas deal - GLOBES

3 Dec, 2018 14:19

Sonia Gorodeisky

Israel Electric Corp. is hoping to cut the price of gas by generating competition between the two partnerships.

Israel Electric Corporation (IEC) (TASE: ELEC.B22) has contacted both the Tamar and Leviathan partnerships, both partly owned by Yitzhak Tshuva, to provide bids to supply 2 billion cubic meters (BCM) of gas annually over two years, Delek Drilling LP (TASE: DEDR.L) notified the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange this morning. At current gas prices the deal has an estimate value of about NIS 2 billion.

According to the report, the gas is to be supplied between October 2019 and the end of June 2021. This time scale extends from when gas is due to begin flowing from the Leviathan reservoir to the start of supply of gas from the Karish reservoir, controlled by Greek company Energean Oil & Gas plc (LSE: ENOG; TASE: ENOG).

The aim of IEC is to try and cut the price of natural gas used in the production of electricity but a competitive process to procure amounts of gas above its commitment to the Tamar partners. At the same time, IEC is anyway trying to lower the price of gas in its agreement with the Tamar partners, which amounts to $6 per thermal unit, 33% over the price closed recently with Energean by private electricity producers.

Remarks at the Budapest Energy Summit - Francis R. Fannon - U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE

December 3, 2018Remarks
Francis R. Fannon
Budapest Energy Summit

Budapest, Hungary

Introduction

Good morning. Thank you Piroska for the kind introduction. I’ve seen a lot of Budapest and I’m pleased to be here today for the Budapest Energy Summit.

Today I would like to discuss Europe’s energy security: the challenges and the opportunities.

The United States has been engaged in energy issues as key to foreign policy since the 1800s. The State Department, at that time, worked to secure markets abroad for U.S. oil and kerosene, some of our largest exports at the time. In the 1970s, the Department was at the forefront in managing oil supply shocks, with then Secretary of State Kissinger helping to found the International Energy Agency.

Eni to drill tenth well in Egypt’s Zohr field next January - ENTERPRISE

Monday, 3 December 2018

Italy’s Eni will begin drilling its tenth well in the Zohr gas field in January 2019 at a cost of USD 300 mn. 

The addition of the tenth well is expected to boost output production by 200 mcf/, and is predicted to take two months to complete. 

Production from the tenth well remains dependent on Eni’s sixth treatment plant, which is currently under construction and expected to be completed by 1Q2019. 

The company recently had to close the ninth well in Zohr after drilling due to lack of capacity at its treatment plants.

EastMed gas pipeline increasingly doubtful - CYPRUS MAIL

December 2, 2018
Charles Ellinas

So far it has been easier finding gas in the region than exporting it. The story behind the much-vaunted EastMed pipeline explains why

The EastMed gas pipeline from Israel through Cyprus and Greece to Europe is back in the limelight.

It was reported on November 24 that the governments of Israel, Cyprus, Greece and Italy reached agreement on the construction of this pipeline based on the results of a feasibility study funded by the EU. However, government sources from Cyprus said that even though an inter-governmental agreement is in sight, a few weeks are still needed to complete the process and obtain approval by the European Commission (EC).

The project is being performed by Edison, an EDF Group company, and Greece’s Depa with about €35 million in funding from the EC, as a project of common interest (PCI). In a recent presentation Depa reported the capacity of the pipeline to be 10-16 billion cubic metres per year (bcm/yr). The project is currently designed to initially carry 10bcm/yr from the East Med to Greece, about 1900km, where it will connect to the Poseidon pipeline in Italy, about 300km.

Even though for the East Med region exporting 10bcm/yr gas is quite important, it is only about two per cent of annual European gas consumption. This should put into context exaggerated claims from the region that the EastMed pipeline will “to some extent minimise Arab influence on Europe!”

The EastMed pipeline so far has the support of the four governments and the EC, but no international oil company (IOC) or investor has yet expressed interest to join.

The four governments and the EU cannot fund the project. This requires IOC and investor participation, and above all it requires buyers for its gas.

Rosneft applies for natural gas import license - ENTERPRISE

Sunday, 2 December 2018

Rosneft applies for natural gas import license: Russian energy giant Rosneft has begun the process of acquiring a license to import natural gas, sources told Al Mal on Thursday. The company has apparently received preliminary approval from the government to form a JV with a local entity for the activity, they added. If true, the move indicates that not only is the government jump starting the process of issuing gas import licenses, but that it has drawn the appetite of oil and gas majors.

Background: After being formed in 2017, the Natural Gas Regulatory Authority — the country’s regulator overseeing a newly liberalized gas import and distribution market — has not moved to issue licenses as quick as some in the industry had hoped. The regulator had postponed in September the issuance of natural gas import licenses to private sector companies, ostensibly because the private sector was “unprepared.” This all appeared to change following the signing of an agreements paving the way for gas imports from Israel. The Oil Ministry is ready to consider permit requests from the private sector to help Egypt become a regional hub for gas trading, Oil Ministry spokesperson Hamdi Abdel Aziz had said at the time. EGAS has renewed preliminary approvals giving Qalaa’s TAQA Arabia, BB Energy and Fleet Energy the import licenses.