Chevron to begin hydrocarbon drilling in 2026 - KATHIMERINI

01.04.2025 • 23:36

US energy giant Chevron is set to launch its first exploratory drilling for hydrocarbons south of Crete in 2026, Environment and Energy Minister Stavros Papastavrou said on Monday.

“This depends on the company’s scheduling, but I believe that if we move forward with the procedures within the year, we will see the first drilling in 2026,” the minister said on Action24 TV.

Papastavrou discussed energy cooperation with US Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, who also chairs the National Energy Dominance Council. Their talks focused on Greece-US strategic ties and recent developments in energy projects, including Chevron’s interest in offshore blocks “South Crete I” and “South Crete II.”

Tech giants eye project in Cyprus - KATHIMERINI

26.06.2024

Major companies like Tesla and Samsung have expressed interest in developing a battery-based electricity storage system in Cyprus, according to Energy, Trade and Industry Minister George Papanastasiou. He announced on Tuesday that formal tenders for the 150-megawatt project will be issued in September.

Papanastasiou outlined the government’s strategy to lower electricity costs, which he termed essential for enhancing the country’s economic competitiveness. The strategy is built on three pillars to turn Cyprus into an energy hub.

The first pillar is the rapid establishment of a liquefied natural gas import terminal for power generation. This project is expected to reduce pollutants by 35-40% and lower electricity costs by cutting down on the annual production of 3 million tons of carbon dioxide.

Sisi’s maritime declaration shields Crete - KATHIMERINI

15.DECEMBER.2022 • 12:15
Vassilis Nedos

Despite Ankara’s efforts to normalize relations with Cairo, the Turkish-Libyan maritime memorandum received another blow to its credibility with the presidential decree of Egypt’s Abdel Fattah el-Sisi declaring the Egypt-Libya maritime border unilaterally with a western limit at the 25th meridian – i.e. even further west than the limit of the August 2020 Greece-Egypt partial demarcation agreement.

The recent developments around Crete serve as a shield for Greece’s rights, as the exploration for hydrocarbons to the southwest of the island at the request of US oil giant ExxonMobil was followed by Sisi’s decree, which transfers Egypt’s claims against Libya further west, dealing another blow to the Turkish-Libyan memorandum. In effect, it makes Tripoli’s desire for exploration south of the eastern part of Crete, where Egypt is now asserting claims, even more difficult.

Although the decree does not reach the median line (as perceived by Greece) leaving room for a future tripartite agreement between Greece, Egypt and Libya, it practically covers even more of Crete against the possibility of Tripoli requesting that exploration be conducted by the Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) at a point near the east of the island.

Cyprus, Israel pledge quick deal in gas field dispute - KATHIMERINI

19.09.2022 • 19:30
MENELAOS HADJICOSTIS

Israel and Cyprus said Monday that they have made “significant” headway in resolving a long-running dispute over an offshore natural gas deposit and say they are committed to quickly reaching a deal as Europe looks for new energy sources.

Cyprus Energy Minister Natasa Pilides and her Israeli counterpart, Karine Elharrar, held talks in the Cypriot capital, pledging to press toward a “fair and swift resolution.”

Israel claims that a portion of Cyprus’ Aphrodite deposit estimated to hold some 4.4 trillion cubic feet of natural gas falls inside its nearby Ishai field, along an offshore demarcation line that separates the two countries’ exclusive economic zones.

Negotiations have stretched for several years, but Europe’s need to wean itself off Russian energy sources since the war in Ukraine appears to have added a new sense of urgency to the talks. Russia has cut back natural gas supplies to Europe, driving up prices.

Greece signs agreement with Italy on natural gas storage - KATHIMERINI

10.SEPT.2022 • 09:06

Energy Minister Kostas Skrekas said on Friday he signed a memorandum of understanding with his Italian counterpart to have natural gas stored in Italy.

The agreement covers 1.5 TWh (terra watt hours) of natural gas that can be transported to Greece via reverse flows, the minister said, without providing further details.

Greece had been in talks with Italy to see whether it can store gas there as part of efforts to secure supplies if Russian flows are disrupted.

Greece has no gas storage facilities and may need to store enough gas in other states to cover 15% of its annual use in the coming winter.

In a pre-recorded message aired at the 6th Southeast Europe Energy Forum 2022 held in Thessaloniki on Friday, Skrekas said Greece has transformed into a regional hub of both natural gas and green energy.

ExxonMobil asks for 2-year extension to drilling rights - KATHIMERINI

25.AUG.2022 • 22:43
Chryssa Liaggou

Energy multinational ExxonMobil has asked for a two-year extension to the lease of two fields west and southwest of Crete for oil and gas exploration.

The two fields had been leased to France’s Total for three years in October 2019, but it withdrew last April.

ExxonMobil and Greek refiner HELPE have stepped in.

Cyprus to export natural gas by 2026, energy minister says - KATHIMERINI

04.05.2022 • 11:52

Cyprus is hoping to begin exporting its natural gas from the Aphrodite gas field by 2026, Minister of Energy, Commerce and Industry, Natasa Pilides, has said.

Speaking after a hearing of the parliamentary committee of Commerce, Pilides said there are many options concerning natural gas infrastructures, one of which is a pipeline connecting the Cypriot gas fields with Egypt, either a joint pipeline with Israeli gas fields or separately.

Pilides also said that there were already discussions with companies that own pipelines from various gas fields to the Egyptian natural gas infrastructure and its contractor companies, as they also should be engaged in the talks with a view to developing the infrastructure within the timeframe, that is three to four years.

Greece turning into gas hub - KATHIMERINI

23.JAN.2022 • 10:29
Chryssa Liaggou

Greece will add two more liquefied natural gas terminals for storage and gasification, thereby strengthening its gas supply security and obtaining a strong role in transit by making the most of its strategic location and its new corridors for the supply of Europe and the Balkans.

Greek energy groups want to make the most of the opportunity of gas being the bridge fuel on the way to clean energy, and of Balkan countries’ need to diversify their sources and not be so reliant on Gazprom. They have therefore designed and are promoting infrastructure for their entry into the Greek LNG system. The fuel will use Greece’s pipelines (the Trans Adriatic Pipeline, the Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria and its connectors, and the plan for the interconnection with North Macedonia) to reach the neighboring countries and reduce their dependence on Turkey, which besides hosting pipelines has also invested in LNG infrastructure, making it a hub for Southeast Europe.

Diplomatic sources reportedly deny claims of Turkey-Egypt EEZ delineation talks - KATHIMERINI

08.MARCH.2021 • 12:36

Diplomatic sources in Egypt have denied claims that Cairo and Ankara are engaged in talks over exclusive economic zone (EEZ) delineation in the Eastern Mediterranean.

According to the same sources, cited by the Arab News website, Egypt remains committed to Greece and Cyprus.

“The Egyptian side is sticking to its position rejecting the maritime agreement signed between the Libyan Government of National Accord and Ankara,” the sources said, according to the report.

“Egypt’s respect for the maritime borders of the Mediterranean countries is not new and Turkey’s attempts to claim that the two countries have negotiated is incorrect,” the sources said.

Last week, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu suggested Turkey had been invited to negotiate a maritime demarcation agreement with Egypt in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias is on Monday expected to visit Cairo and Nicosia.

UK extends sanctions for East Med drilling - KATHIMERINI

18.12.2020 : 21:11

Vassilis Nedos

The United Kingdom has announced the extension of sanctions on persons involved in illegal drilling in the Eastern Mediterranean, namely in Cyprus, beyond December 31, when the transitional period for the UK’s formal exit from the European Union expires.

According to the UK Foreign Office, the Unauthorized Drilling Activities in the Eastern Mediterranean regime includes sanctions for “discouraging any activity of exploration, production or extraction of hydrocarbons that has not been authorized by Cyprus in its territorial sea or/and in its exclusive economic zone and on its continental shelf.”

It added that this includes activities which may jeopardize or hamper the reaching of a delimitation agreement “in cases where the exclusive economic zone or continental shelf has not been delimited in accordance with international law with a state having an opposite coast.”

Cyprus energy designs unaffected by Turkey's provations, President says - KATHIMERINI / CNA

15 DECEMBER 2020 - 16:25

The Republic of Cyprus has been assured that ExxonMobil, Qatar Petroleum, Total and Eni are planning their drilling activities for the second half of 2021

Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades said Tuesday that that the Republic, as a sovereign and independent state and despite Turkey’s provocations, threats and illegal activities, is determined to go ahead with the implementation of its energy policy.

He said the government is continuously in touch with all oil and gas companies licensed to operate within its Economic Exclusive Zone (EEZ), with all assuring that they remain committed to their contractual obligations and that in this context ExxonMobil, Qatar Petroleum, Total and Eni are planning their drilling activities for the second half of 2021.

President Anastasiades was addressing the 8th Energy Symposium, organised online by the Southeastern Europe Energy Institute and Financial Media Way.

DESFA lands LNG project in Kuwait - KATHIMERINI

11 December 2020 : 22:21
Chryssa Liaggou

Greece’s gas grid operator is making a dynamic entry into the international scene after landing a significant project in Kuwait.

The Hellenic Gas Transmission System Operator (DESFA) has undertaken the operation and maintenance of a new liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal under construction in the Gulf country, which is expected to start operating in 2021.

DESFA outbid six other suitors short-listed by KIPIC, a subsidiary of the state oil company of Kuwait, to secure the management and maintenance of the LNG station being constructed at al-Zour, some 90 kilometers from the country’s capital city.

The Greek company announced that the contract it has secured with KIPIC will last for a minimum of five years, and DESFA earned it after the completion of the second and final stage of the tender.

It added that a key role in its successful bid belonged to the high specialization and expertise of DESFA’s stakeholders, Snam and Enagas, and to the experience that the Greek gas grid operator has gained from managing the country’s transmission system and the LNG terminal on the island of Revythousa.

East Mediterranean states establish forum - KATHIMERINI

22 September 2020 - 12:30

The founding members of the East Mediterranean Gas Forum signed a charter during an online ceremony on Tuesday, marking the group’s organization status in seeking to promote regional cooperation.

Ministers from Egypt, Israel, Greece, Cyprus, Jordan, the Palestinian Authority and Italy were scheduled to meet online to put pen to paper in a virtual ceremony, thereby establishing regional intergovernmental forum by statue.

According to a joint declaration, the forum “will contribute to advancing regional stability and prosperity” through cooperation in the energy field.

The Cypriot minister also said the charter was open for all countries that have an interest in the region and also share the same set of values and principles.

Cyprus parliament ratifies EastMed pipeline agreement - KATHIMERINI

FRIDAY JULY 17, 2020, 16:08

Cyprus’ House of Representatives ratified on Friday the EastMed natural gas pipeline.

The agreement, which was ratified by legislators with 47 votes in favor and two abstentions, provides for the construction of a system of pipelines for the transport of natural gas from the Eastern Mediterranean to supply European markets.

The intergovernmental agreement for the construction of the EastMed natural gas pipeline was signed on January 2 in Athens between Greek Environment and Energy Minister Kostis Hadzidakis, Cypriot Energy Minister Yiorgos Lakkotrypis and Israeli Energy Minister Yuval Steiniz.

Drillship docks in Larnaca port - KATHIMERINI

THURSDAY JULY 2, 2020, 09:13

The Tungsten Explorer drillship, which is expected to be used in the Total-Eni consortium’s drilling activities in Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) has moved to the port of Larnaca, state-run Athens-Macedonia news agency (ANA-MPA) reports.

Earlier reports had said that the drill vessel would move from Lebanon, where it was conducting exploratory drilling off the coast of Beirut, to Trinidad and Tobago for a different offshore project.

Eventually, a decision was made that the vessel remains docked in Cyprus for the next few months, raising hopes that energy exploration will begin off the Mediterranean island after several delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and developments in the broader region.

Greece and Italy sign ‘historic’ maritime borders accord - KATHIMERINI

TUESDAY JUNE 9, 2020, 13:27

Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias and his Italian counterpart Luigi Di Maio on Tuesday inked a maritime borders agreement delimiting an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) between the two countries.

The agreement, which was signed by the two foreign ministers during a visit by Di Maio to Athens and is an extension of a 1977 accord, paves the way for Greece and Italy to explore for and exploit marine resources.

It also paves the way for Greece to reach a similar deal with neighboring Albania.

“The delimitation of maritime zones with all of our neighbors in the context of international law is a consistent objective for this country,” Dendias said in comments after signing the agreement.

Libyan MoU cannot affect Greek rights, says US energy official - KATHIMERINI

02.JUNE.2020 : 22:45

The Turkey-Libya memorandum of understanding (MoU) relating to maritime zones “cannot as a legal matter affect the rights or obligations of third states” such as Greece, a US energy official said on Tuesday during a virtual roundtable discussion on the Eastern Mediterranean and the trilateral partnership between Greece, Cyprus and Israel.

The event was organized by the Atlantic Council and the American-Hellenic Chambers of Greece, Cyprus and Israel.

“International Law, the Convention of the Law of the Sea generally recognises that islands ... generally have an EEZ and they have a continental shelf, just as any other land territory, said Francis Fannon, US Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources.

At the same time, an MoU “does not abrogate the rights of states,” he added, "their legal status is recognized, there's not an equivalency here."

Energean gets Total’s stake in the Ionian - KATHIMERINI

27.02.2020 : 22:11
Chryssa Liaggou

Greek oil enterprise Energean has secured its entry into Block 2 of the Ionian Sea by buying out the stake of French company Total, which had been seeking to disengage from the region for months.

Total had a 50 percent stake in the consortium to survey Block 2, while Hellenic Petroleum and Edison each hold 25 percent. Sources say Total first offered its two partners the stake but that they were not interested. Energean agreed to buy it because it appreciates the synergies this particular block presents with the other areas it has undertaken in Greece (Ioannina), as well as similar ones in Montenegro and the concessions of Edison in Italy.

EU imposes sanctions on Turkish energy officials - KATHIMERINI

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 27, 2020 - 21:47

The European Union has imposed sanctions on two high-ranking officials from the Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) in connection with Turkey's illegal drilling activities in Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone, it emerged on Thursday.

The restrictive measures to be imposed on Mehmet Ferruh Akalin and Ali Coscun Namoglu consist of a ban on travel to the EU and an asset freeze, the Cyprus Mail reported. Moreover, EU persons and entities are not permitted to make funds available to the two individuals, it said.

The decision was made public on Thursday in the EU’s Official Journal which referred to Akalin as Vice-President and member of the Board of Directors of the Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) and head of TPAO’s exploration, research and development and information technologies departments and to Namoglu as TPAO’s deputy director of exploration involved in planning and overseeing TPAO’s offshore hydrocarbon exploration activities.

Cyprus and Norway prepare to sign energy MoU - KATHIMERINI

Norwegian Foreign Minister Ine Marie Eriksen Soreide with her Cypriot
counterpart Nicos Christodoulides (PIO)

21 FEBRUARY 2020 - 16:43

Cyprus and Norway began preparations on Friday to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on energy issues, that will contain provisions for the exchange of expertise in relation to the national hydrocarbon fund (sovereign fund), among other things.

According to the Cyprus News Agency, the MoU under discussion contains five components, concerning LNG bunkering, LNG legislation, and cross border interconnection for natural gas and electricity. Other provisions include Renewable Energy Sources and sovereign fund management.

The MoU will be signed at Ministerial level once the relevant preparation work is completed.

Diplomatic sources said Oslo recently discouraged a Norwegian energy company form entering into cooperation with TPAO, the Turkish Petroleum Corporation.

After it was approached by TPAO to cooperate over drilling issues, the company contacted Norway’s Foreign Ministry, which in turn appeared negative to the prospect of the two companies cooperating.