Cyprus, Israel move forward with talks over disputed gas field - NEW EUROPE

AUGUST 7, 2020 : 19:22 

Talks between Nicosia and Tel Aviv and Israel are progressing on Israel’s Yishai gas field which is adjacent to Cyprus’ Aphrodite field, Cyprus’ new Energy, Commerce and Industry Minister Natasa Pilides said on August 5 after her first video conference with her Israeli counterpart Yuval Steinitz, Cyprus News Agency reported.

The Cypriot government granted the Noble Energy, Shell, and Delek consortium an exploitation licence for the Aphrodite gas field. The companies intended to pipe the gas to neighbouring Egypt. Noble Energy has since been bought out by Chevron. But Israel claims a share of the production of Aphrodite, as a small portion of the reservoir stretches into the Yishai field, according to CNA.

Asked if the dispute will be resolved soon, Charles Ellinas, a senior fellow at the Global Energy Center at the Atlantic Council, told New Europe on August 7, “This is what Cyprus Energy Minister has said, but we have not yet seen a response from the Israeli side, other than welcoming Cyprus’ proposals and confirming that it will now study them”.

US-Greece-Cyprus-Israel want oil, gas as much East Med peace - NEW EUROPE

AUGUST 13, 2019 - 16:32

ATHENS – Meeting in Athens, the energy ministers of Greece, Cyprus, and Israel – Kostas Hatzidakis, Georgios Lakkotrypis, and Yuval Steinitz, as well as US Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources Frank Fannon – have discussed their cooperation in the field of energy, while affirming their shared commitment to promoting peace, security, and prosperity in the Eastern Mediterranean region.

The four met in Athens on 7 August and agreed to establish a High-Level Working Group (HLWG) that will highlight specific energy projects and propose ways of promoting their implementation.

“The ministers and the United States agreed to support their countries’ energy independence and the establishment of an Energy Corridor of the Eastern Mediterranean, contributing thus to the energy security of the European Union by actively promoting the diversification of import sources and routes,” the US Department of State said in a statement.

Israel, Cyprus, Greece to push EastMed gas pipeline to Europe at May summit - NEW EUROPE

APRIL 8, 2018, 01:19
Kostis Geropoulos

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke on April 4 with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and “among the issues discussed were advancing the feasibility study for laying a gas pipeline from Israel to Cyprus and from there to Greece and Western Europe,” the office of the Israeli prime minister said.

“The leaders noted that they are looking forward to the trilateral summit next month,” Netanyahu’s office said in a press release. The summit will be held in Nicosia.

Cyprus Natural Hydrocarbons Company [former] CEO Charles Ellinas told New Europe on April 6 that Netanyahu, Anastasiades and Tsipras were planning to meet early January but the meeting was postponed without clear explanations, other than perhaps the UN votes on the issue of Jerusalem.

Ellinas noted that nevertheless the meeting is important in terms of contributing to maintaining close relationships between Israel, Cyprus and Greece. However, he said, the meeting has to be seen what it actually is, as a political meeting to facilitate and eventually sign an inter-governmental agreement on the EastMed gas pipeline.

“Even though essential in facilitating the pipeline, going from there to actually building such a pipeline requires commercial feasibility, participation by the oil and gas industry and financial institutions to fund it and build it and, above all, gas sales to customers in Europe,” Ellinas said. “None of these is anywhere near materialising. Without them this project remains on the table as politically desirable but commercially challenging, unless it secures a substantial subsidy from the EU, which I consider unlikely,” he added.

Turkey’s Syria campaign unlikely to affect regional energy projects - NEW EUROPE

JANUARY 29, 2018, 10:44
Kostis Geropoulos

East Med gas pipeline from Cyprus to Greece and onto Europe bypassing Turkey has the less political risk, leading regional expert says

ATHENS – As Turkey moves forward with ‘Operation Olive Branch’ with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reportedly saying that Ankara is prepared to take its fight against Kurdish forces in northern Syria as far as Iraq, a leading regional analyst told New Europe that the latest military campaign is not likely to have any direct effect on energy projects.

Asked if that military operation would have any effect on long-term projects like the Trans Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) and the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), Saleh Jallad of the Consolidated Contractors Company and publisher of the Middle East Economic Survey “MEES” said, “No, these are a little bit in a way independent. TAP, for instance, it has to do with influence but indirect ways, not direct with Turkey. So it will continue to go and it’s a good project, in my opinion, because it could supply Europe… and Greece will also benefit from this project”.

Jallad stressed that Turkey also wants to diversify its energy resources because the majority of its imports are from Russia.

At Rome ‘Club Med’ summit, Greece gets a line on TAP gas to Italy - NEW EUROPE

JANUARY 12, 2018, 18:49 
Kostis Geropoulos

But East Med exports from Cyprus, Israel still pipe dream for now

As heads of state and government of Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Portugal and Spain, or so-called “Club Med,’ convened in Rome on January 10 for the fourth Summit of the Southern European Union countries, Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades reportedly discussed energy issues with French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni. Currently, Italian energy major ENI and France’s Total are drilling for natural gas in Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Also in Rome, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and Gentiloni reportedly discussed energy cooperation. Greece and Italy are cooperating to bring Caspian gas to Europe via the Trans Adriatic Pipeline.

Connecting with the Trans Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) at the Greek-Turkish border, TAP will cross Northern Greece, Albania and the Adriatic Sea before coming ashore in Southern Italy to connect to the Italian natural gas network.

US’ ExxonMobil set for 2018, Ankara warnings ignored - NEW EUROPE

AUGUST 22, 2017 09:12

Kostis Geropoulos

Italian energy major ENI’s bold announcement that it will start a drilling programme in November offshore Cyprus, which not only involves blocks 3 and 8, but also 6, demonstrates that it is not concerned about Turkish threats, Cyprus Natural Hydrocarbons Company [former] CEO Charles Ellinas told New Europe on August 21.

“In its own submissions to the government of Cyprus, ENI stated that it has examined in detail Cyprus’ rights to its EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone), and it is satisfied on their legality on the basis of UNCLOS (The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) and relevant international conventions. As a result, ENI and its partner (French energy major) Total are fully satisfied about their rights to explore and exploit block 6, disputed by Turkey, as well as other blocks,” Ellinas said.

With Turkey fuming, French Frigate patrols off Cyprus, energy drilling begins - NEW EUROPE

Turkish military search and rescue exercise with helicopters & ships
near Ammochostos, Cyprus, June 14, 2017

JULY 19, 2017, 19:49
Kostis Geropoulos

French-Italian consortium hunts energy, Cyprus ignores Ankara’s warnings

French Minister for Armed Forces Florence Parly visited Cyprus for the first time on July 17 as a consortium of France’s Total and Italy’s ENI begun drilling in Block 11 of the Mediterranean island’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), despite threats from neighbouring Turkey.

Parly was reportedly briefed by her Cypriot counterpart Christoforos Fokaides on Total’s drilling in Cyprus’ EEZ. Fokaides met Parly at the Zenon crisis management centre in Larnaca, ahead of her visit to the French Navy frigate Languedoc, which is currently operating in the East Med, Cyprus Mail reported.

Cyprus government spokesman Nicos Christodoulides said on July 17 the natural gas exploration was going as planned. “There is nothing causing concern or affecting our energy planning,” he said.

All eyes on Turkey as Total-ENI vessel readied to drill offshore Cyprus - NEW EUROPE

West Capella in Block 11, photo tweeted by Minister Lakkotrypis

July 12, 2017 14:26
Kostis Geropoulos

If Ankara provokes a hot incident in its attempt to block or stem the upcoming explorations in Cyprus’ EEZ, then it will have to confront not only Nicosia but the majority of the international community and the global energy community, a leading regional expert tells New Europe

ATHENS – As the West Capella drilling vessel, contracted by France’s Total in association with Italy’s ENI, is about to start drilling at Block 11 off Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) only a few days after UN-sponsored reunification talks collapsed in Crans-Montana, there are concerns that Turkey may cause tensions in the area.

Energy Minister Lakkotrypis “cautiously optimistic” oil majors will discover more gas finds offshore Cyprus - NEW EUROPE

Energy Minister Yiorgos Lakkotrypis, Republic of Cyprus

JUNE 30, 2017 UPDATED 10:51 
Kostis Geropoulos

LAGONISSI, GREECE – Cyprus, Greece, Israel, Italy and the European Commission are committed to push forward a pipeline project to export recent gas deliveries from the East Mediterranean region, Cyprus’ Energy Minister told New Europe on June 29.

“I think the commitment of the four countries that are involved and the Commission was proven when we had the quadrilateral meeting in Tel Aviv and continues to be so when we had the trilateral just a few days ago in Salonica between Greece, Cyprus and Israel,” Cyprus Energy Minister Yiorgos Lakkotrypis said in an interview on the sidelines of a conference in Lagonissi, south of Athens.

Greece’s Energean inks deals to supply Israeli gas to Dalia and Or - NEW EUROPE

May 31, 2017 09:00
New Europe Online/KG

Dalia and Or will purchase part of their gas requirements from Karish-Tanin to operate the Dalia power plant as well as future power plants to be built by Or

Greece’s Energean Oil & Gas announced on May 30 that its subsidiary Energean Israel has signed with Dalia Power Energies and its sister company – Or Power Energies, two agreements for the supply of natural gas from the Karish and Tanin fields, offshore Israel.

Dalia and Or will purchase part of their gas requirements from Karish-Tanin to operate the Dalia power plant, the largest private power station in Tzafit, south-central Israel, as well as future power plants to be built by Or, Energean said.

US envoy hails EU-backed Balkan, East Med regional diversification projects, slams Russia’s Nord Stream-2 - NEW EUROPE

MAY 19, 2017 21:12 
Kostis Geropoulos

ATHENS – Several key energy projects currently underway in Greece will bring significant quantities of non-Russian gas to Greece, Italy, Bulgaria, and other regional partners, lessening the bloc’s reliance on Gazprom, US Ambassador to Greece Geoffrey Pyatt told a conference in Athens.

He was referring to the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), the Greece-Bulgaria Interconnector (IGB), and the expansion of the liquefied natural gas terminal (LNG) Revithoussa. “While the volumes involved are not enough to satisfy European gas demand, the introduction of new pipeline gas improves the market dynamic, encouraging competition, which will benefit everyone,” Pyatt said in remarks at Hellenic Association for Energy Economics (HAEE) Conference.

TAP pipeline reports progress through Greece - NEW EUROPE

17:43 MAY 4, 2017
New Europe Online/KG

Security is the project’s absolute priority, TAP says

The Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) on May 4 informed the Embassies located in Greece about the progress of the project, highlighting security as the project’s absolute priority.

The approximately 878 kilometre long TAP pipeline will connect with the Trans Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) at the Turkish-Greek border at Kipoi, cross Greece and Albania and the Adriatic Sea, before coming ashore in Southern Italy.

TAP’s Country Manager for Greece Rikard Scoufias focused on how TAP is being implemented in Greece with respect to local communities, as demonstrated in the engagement and consultation process followed; the extensive communication campaigns launched; the social and environmental investments programme drafted and implemented; and the benefits TAP brings to Greece – both present and future ones, TAP said in a press release.

EU eyes East Mediterranean gas supplies - NEW EUROPE

March 31, 2017 16:01
New Europe Online/KG

Cañete to visit Tel Aviv on April 3 for EastMed Energy Summit talks with Israel, Greece, Cyprus, Italy

European Union Climate Action and Energy Commissioner Miguel Arias Cañete will travel to Tel Aviv on April 3 to discuss the potential of gas from the eastern Mediterranean region for Europe with the Energy Ministers from Israel, Greece, Cyprus and Italy.

At the ministerial EastMed Energy Summit, the Commissioner and Ministers will discuss East Med developments in the energy sector and options for meeting the needs of the Israeli and European gas markets.

Greece says East Med gas pipeline to Europe feasible - NEW EUROPE

MARCH 7, 2017, 15:25
Kostis Geropoulos

Project plans to connect Levantine Basin with Cyprus, Greece

DELPHI, Greece – A pipeline planned to transport natural gas from the recently discovered fields in Eastern Mediterranean to Europe is feasible and viable, the CEO of Greece’s Public Gas Corporation has said.

“There has been a lot of speculation over the past years, people talking of ‘Pharaonic’ projects. I was personally a bit hesitant. Now, we have conclusion of the studies that this pipeline is technically feasible, economically viable and commercially competitive,” Theodoros Kitsakos said, referring to the Eastern Mediterranean Pipeline (East Med).

Addressing an energy panel on the third day of the Delphi Economic Forum on March 4, Kitsakos displayed slides for the first time in public showing the technical feasibility of the East Med pipeline. “From a technical background all steps are quite feasible. There is only one small piece of less than 10 kilometres just before the island of Crete where the depth is quite high,” he said. “But technology has advanced so we can cover this also so the whole route is guaranteed,” he said.

Gazprom wants to keep EU market share, block Trans-Balkan pipe route - NEW EUROPE

FEBRUARY 17, 2017, 13:34 
Kostis Geropoulos

Russia is likely to maintain some gas transit through Ukraine even if Turkish Stream and Nord Stream 2 pipelines are built, energy expert Peter Poptchev told New Europe.

“Russia would not mind transiting ‘some’ gas through Ukraine – after it would have realised – if at all – Turkish Stream and Nord Stream 2,” said Poptchev, who served as ambassador-at-large for energy security at the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs when the Balkan country negotiated the now-cancelled South Stream pipeline with Gazprom.

Stalled Cyprus unity talks catalyst, not deal breaker - NEW EUROPE

Cyprus’ Energy Minister Yiorgos Lakkotrypis (L) signs an agreement
on the transfer of natural gas through a direct undersea pipeline
from Cyprus' EEZ towards Egypt, in Nicosia, Cyprus, August 31, 2016.
Lakkotrypis told New Europe on February 1, 2017, that exports
from Cyprus’ Aphrodite field are planned for Egypt.

FEBRUARY 3, 2017, 21:46 
Kostis Geropoulos

ATHENS – Cyprus hopes the new US Administration of Donald Trump will continue supporting the strategic interests of Nicosia and Washington in East Mediterranean, Cyprus’ Energy Minister told New Europe.

Nicosia and Washington share common strategic interests, Cyprus’ Energy Minister Yiorgos Lakkotrypis said on the sidelines of the Athens Energy Forum on February 1.

“We have a very close relationship with the State Department. We’re very close and we look forward to the see the new Administration and to start discussions. I’m sure they will be briefed. I cannot comment on that because we haven’t see yet who our counterparts in the US will be,” Lakkotrypis said.

He said that Cyprus could help boost the EU’s energy security and play a role in the EU Energy Union. “We’re discussing with the European Union a number of projects of common interest that will help us to ship the gas from Cyprus to Europe, involving Israel, involving Egypt, involving, of course, Greece, which is another member state,” Cyprus’ Energy Minister said.

Israel, Cyprus, Greece boost energy ties - NEW EUROPE

Tsipras (L), Anastasiades (C), Netanyahu

DECEMBER 9, 2016 02:01

New Europe Online/KG

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades held a trilateral summit in Jerusalem on December 8, agreeing to boost energy cooperation.

Tsipras, who was accompanied by Environment and Energy Minister Giorgos Stathakis, said Greece aims to be an energy transit centre for Israeli and Cypriot natural gas to Europe.

The Greek premier said teams from the countries will discuss the East Med pipeline to transport gas from the Israeli and Cyprus offshore gas fields through Greece to other parts of Europe. The project is expected to boost European Union’s energy security, providing a new supply route and source of gas.

Šefčovič, Greek Minister focus on TAP, Vertical Corridor, energy exports from the East Med to EU - NEW EUROPE

DECEMBER 6, 2016, 07:42
By New Europe Online/KG

The European Commission and Greece discussed in Brussels on December 5 the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), the Vertical Gas Corridor, exports from the East Mediterranean to the EU and privatisation of Greek gas transmission system operator DESFA.

Greece’s Energy Minister Giorgos Stathakis met with European Commission Vice President for Energy Union Maroš Šefčovič on the sidelines of the council meeting of energy ministers in Brussels.

According to the Greek Energy Ministry, the meeting was conducted in “constructive climate” and the two parties discussed TAP’s construction course, and the developments regarding two pipelines: the first concerns the Vertical Corridor and the second the connection of hydrocarbon fields in Southeast Mediterranean to the European market.

US oil companies may benefit from stronger political support - NEW EUROPE

NOVEMBER 11, 2016, 20:49 
Kostis Geropoulos

ATHENS – The new US Administration of President Donald Trump is unlikely to facilitate the export of hydrocarbons from Israel, Cyprus and Greece but support for solution of the Cyprus problem will remain, top experts told New Europe.

“With regards to export of hydrocarbons from Israel, Cyprus and Greece I do not see any direct impact, but if prices stay low it will not help,” Charles Ellinas [former] CEO of Cyprus Natural Hydrocarbons Company told New Europe on November 10, adding that such exports are still challenged by low oil and gas prices in Europe and globally. “Israel’s plans to export gas to Turkey should not be affected – it is a local deal in which the US will have a role similar to now, i.e. supporting it,” he said.

Low gas prices clog pipeline projects, EastMed’s Leviathan - NEW EUROPE

NOVEMBER 4, 2016, 13:06
Kostis Geropoulos

ATHENS – Low gas prices have a limited effect on the planning of major pipeline projects, including plans to export gas from the East Mediterranean, DEPA CEO Theodoros Kitsakos said.

He was responding to a question from New Europe at a Russian-Greek forum in Athens on November 2 on whether low gas prices could affect the development of gas projects, including the EastMed pipeline.

“The decision whether the gas from the Levantine Basin will come to Europe via Cyprus and Turkey, which it is a political issue, or via EastMed from an offshore pipeline to Crete, Peloponnese and upwards, it does not have to do so much with the price of natural gas at Leviathan,” the head of the Public Gas Corporation of Greece said, adding that this is a long-term, strategic project.