‘Goal is to sell first Cyprus gas in 2028’ - CYPRUS MAIL

Tuesday 19 May
Tom Cleaver

Cabinet on Tuesday approved the development and production plan for the Kronos gas field, which is located in Block 6 of Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), with President Nikos Christodoulides stressing the importance of the plan’s approval ahead of the day’s cabinet meeting.

“Let me remind you that the first discovery in the Republic of Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone was in 2011, and 15 years later, we are taking, I believe, the most important decision regarding the state of natural gas exploitation,” he said.

He added that in addition to the development and production plan, cabinet would also approve “the agreements concerning the basic terms of sale of Cypriot natural gas”.

“This is a very important development for the utilisation of our country’s energy resources. The goal is to sell the first Cypriot natural gas to Europe through Egypt in 2028 and we are approving all the relevant agreements,” he said.

TotalEnergies to enter Block 8 offshore Lebanon - OIL & GAS JOURNAL

Jan. 9, 2026

TotalEnergies signed an agreement with the Lebanese government for the Block 8 exploration permit offshore Lebanon.

As part of the initial work program, TotalEnergies will acquire a 1,200-sq-km 3D seismic survey to further assess the area’s exploration potential.

TotalEnergies was awarded Block 8 in the Third Offshore Licensing round. TotalEnergies is operator of the block (35%) with partners Eni (35%) and QatarEnergy (30%).

Block 8 lies about 70 km off the southern coast of Lebanon in water depths of 1,700-2,100 m.

The President of the Republic of Cyprus held a videoconference with the Vice President of ExxonMobil - REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS PRESIDENCY

07/07/25 18:17  |  Press release  |  Energy, Commerce and Industry, Government Spokesperson, President of the Republic / Presidency

During today’s videoconference between the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr Nikos Christodoulides, and the Vice President of ExxonMobil, Mr John Ardill, in the presence of the Minister of Energy, Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr George Papanastasiou, and the Country Manager of ExxonMobil Cyprus, Mr Varnavas Theodossiou, President Christodoulides was briefed on the new natural gas discovery made at “Pegasus-1” well, in Block 10 of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the Republic of Cyprus.

The discovery follows the successful completion of drilling operations conducted by the consortium of ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Cyprus (Offshore) Limited (Operator) and QatarEnergy International E&P LLC.

ExxonMobil launches 'promising' exploration well off Cyprus, President says - REUTERS

NICOSIA, Jan 24 (Reuters) - ExxonMobil (XOM.N) and Qatar Energy on Friday began exploratory drilling for natural gas in a prospect west of Cyprus, Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides said on X.

The east Mediterranean has yielded some major gas discoveries in recent years, and a disruption in energy supplies from Russia after its 2022 invasion of Ukraine has sharpened Europe's attention on securing alternative sources of supply.

"Cyprus progresses exploration activities, aiming to be an alternative and reliable source of natural gas for the EU," Christodoulides wrote in his post.

He said drilling at the prospect, named Electra, got underway on Friday morning.

ExxonMobil executives have previously described Electra as 'highly promising'.

The company secured hydrocarbon exploration licences for Cyprus in 2017. Other multinationals in the region include U.S.'s Chevron (CVX.N), Italy's Eni (ENI.MI), and France's TotalEnergies (TTEF.PA).

"Electra" and "Pegasus" Shape Cyprus’s Energy Future - FAST FORWARD

08 Jan 2025

ExxonMobil has completed all necessary preparations to begin exploratory drilling at the "Electra" target within Block 5 of Cyprus’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Drilling is expected to commence within the next two weeks, marking one of the most significant initiatives by ExxonMobil and Qatar Energy in the region. The company also plans to explore the "Pegasus" target, leveraging seismic data to identify potential reserves and contribute to Europe's energy solutions amid challenges stemming from the war in Ukraine.

Mediterranean Energy in Focus

As Brief reports, ExxonMobil’s plans align with the broader shift in global energy strategies, as the European Union seeks to secure its energy future. Investors are closely monitoring developments in the Mediterranean, a region that promises energy security alongside economic benefits.

After deal with Israel, offshore rig arrives in Lebanese waters to drill for gas - THE TIMES OF ISRAEL

16 August 2023, 2:35 pm 5
By AP and TOI STAFF

An offshore drilling rig has arrived at its location in the Mediterranean Sea off Lebanon’s coast and will start operations in the coming weeks to search for gas, Lebanese cabinet ministers said Wednesday.

The rig is expected to begin drilling in September in Lebanese waters near the border with Israel after the two countries reached a deal last year on their maritime border. Lebanon and Israel have formally been at war since Israel’s creation in 1948.

Cash-strapped Lebanon hopes that future gas discoveries will help the small Middle East nation pull itself out of the worst economic and financial crisis in its modern history.

Minister of Transport Ali Hamie wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, that the rig arrived Wednesday morning at the location where it is scheduled to begin work. The rig faces the southern port city of Tyre.

Cyprus expects gas field development plan by end of year - ASSOCIATED PRESS

July 21, 2022
MENELAOS HADJICOSTIS

NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — A plan to develop a sizeable natural gas field off Cyprus that could help the European Union find alternative energy sources to Russia will be ready by the end of the year, the east Mediterranean island nation’s energy minister said Thursday.

Energy Minister Natasa Pilides said another well is expected to be drilled at the Aphrodite field in the next few months and will be used to gather additional information about the deposit’s size and to extract gas at a later stage.

Initially discovered in 2011, the Aphrodite field is estimated to hold up to 4.4 trillion cubic feet of gas. Chevron, along with partners Dutch Shell and Israeli NewMed Energy, now own the drilling rights to the field.

Aphrodite sits close to the massive Leviathan gas field, which is also jointly operated by Chevron and NewMed.

ExxonMobil: Pipeline, Ship or Both for Exporting Cyprus Gas - U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT / ASSOCIATED PRESS

Feb. 1, 2022, at 4:42 a.m.
By MENELAOS HADJICOSTIS, Associated Press

NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — Natural gas will remain an important energy source through 2050 and quantities of the hydrocarbon found off the east Mediterranean island nation of Cyprus could reach markets through a pipeline or by liquefying it for transport by ship, the head of ExxonMobil's Cyprus arm said Tuesday.

ExxonMobil Cyprus lead country manager Varnavas Theodossiou said “all energy sources remain important” for the next three decades “across a range” of scenarios set out under the Paris Agreement on climate change as the globe shifts to cleaner fuels toward achieving a zero-emissions goal.

He told The Associated Press by email that a combination of a pipeline or ship-transported, liquefied gas is also a possibility in getting the hydrocarbon to market.

ExxonMobil, Qatar Energy sign Cyprus exploration block - FINANCIAL MIRROR

10 December 2021

US giant ExxonMobil and Qatar Energy Friday signed an exploration and production-sharing contract for oil and gas in Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) despite Turkey’s opposition to the deal.

The contract was signed by Cypriot Energy Minister Natasa Pilides and Varnavas Theodosiou, CEO of ExxonMobil Cyprus and Ali al Mana, Director of Qatar Energy’s International Upstream and Exploration.

It is the second Cyprus exploration contract the consortium has signed and the tenth licenced block of 13 in the Cypriot EEZ.