Eni to restart Egypt’s Damietta LNG plant operations - OIL REVIEW MIDDLE EAST

Sunday, 01 March 2020 04:30

Supermajor Eni has announced that Egypt’s Damietta LNG plant is expected to resume operations by June following a series of agreements with its partners in Egypt

The liquefaction plant’s owner is the company SEGAS, which is 40 per cent owned by Eni through Union Fenosa Gas (50 per cent Eni and 50 per cent Naturgy). The plant has a capacity of 7.56 bcm per year, but has been idle since November 2012.

The agreements provide for the amicable resolution of the pending disputes of Union Fenosa Gas and SEGAS with EGAS and ARE, and the subsequent corporate restructuring of Union Fenosa Gas, whose assets will be divided between the shareholders Eni and Naturgy.

Southern European leaders to discuss proposed EastMed pipeline at Med7 Summit - FOREIGN BRIEF

June 14, 2019
Joshua Clarkson

Heads of state from Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Portugal and Spain convene today in Malta for the sixth South EU Summit.

The group, informally known as the Med7, is expected to focus on energy security at today’s conference.

In January, six European and Middle Eastern leaders committed to creating an Eastern Mediterranean regional gas market. The biggest step, however, is the proposed EastMed pipeline, which would bring Levantine gas deposits to European markets via Cyprus, Greece and Italy. The potential 1,900-kilometre pipeline could satisfy 10% of Europe’s energy demand, diminishing the continent’s dependence on Russian energy.

While the EastMed pipeline is still in the planning stages, it could be a geopolitical boon for the EU. Without reliance on Russian energy, a more united front on Ukraine could be established, and Moscow would have less leverage in negotiations with Brussels.

Summit Declaration of the Southern European Union Countries - REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS

Nicosia, 29 January 2019 

1.We, the Heads of State or Government of Cyprus, France, Italy, Greece, Portugal, Malta, and Spain, have convened in Nicosia for the fifth Summit of the Southern European Union Countries.

2.Following our last Summit in Rome, we gathered today to reaffirm our profound commitment to the European project and our common values, such as the rule of law, freedom, democracy, human rights and solidarity and to address multiple challenges through continuous display of solidarity and collective responses at the EU level. We reaffirm our strong belief that, building our common European project upon a perspective for the Mediterranean as a region of peace, stability and prosperity, is in the interest of Europe as a whole.

3.Convinced that a strong and united European Union is the best way forward, we are determined to contribute constructively to the debate on our shared future. At the Sibiu Informal Summit, on 9 May 2019, we intend to provide guidance for the new legislative cycle and contribute to the Strategic Agenda for 2019-2024. We also anticipate a renewed commitment to a modernised EU that delivers on the issues that really matter to its citizens. We have paid close attention to the results of our intensive cycle of Citizens' Dialogues and Citizens' Consultations; in our work on the next Strategic Agenda, we will make our utmost in providing new and appropriate ways of engaging citizens and responding to their legitimate concerns.

MED-7 Summit in Nicosia set to focus on EU’s great challenges - CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

CNA - Cyprus/NICOSIA 29/01/2019 08:08

The 5th MED-7 Summit which will take place on Monday afternoon, in Nicosia, is set to focus on the great challenges the EU is faced with today, including the migration crisis, Brexit, energy security, the next multi-annual fiscal framework, developments in the euro area and climate change.

Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades will host French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa, Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Borrell, at the Filoxenia Conference Centre, in Nicosia.

In statements yesterday, Government Spokesman Prodromos Prodromou said that “the seven countries share common interests.

Snam plans to ‘establish Athens as base for southeast Mediterranean’ - ENERGY PRESS

23/FEB/2018

Snam will aim to contribute to Greece becoming a regional energy hub in the southeast Mediterranean, Federico Ermoli, chief international assets officer at Italy’s Snam, heading one of two bidding teams vying for a 66 percent stake in DESFA, the natural gas grid operator, has stressed in an interview with Greek daily Kathimerini.

Snam and its bidding partners, Spain’s Enagás Internacional and Belgium’s Fluxys, submitted a binding offer to the DEFSA tender last Friday. Staged by TAIPED, the state privatization fund, its content is still being processed before offers are opened, probably late next week.

Another Spanish entry, Regasificadora del Noroeste (Reganosa Asset Investments) joined forces with Romania’s Transgaz and the EBRD, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, for the other offer.

“We aspire to further develop the company and contribute to making Greece an energy hub in the Mediterranean for natural gas stemming from various regions,” Ermoli remarked, while adding that DESFA requires strong partners capable of making investments for the future of the firm, country and its geopolitical role.

Commenting on Greece’s strategic importance for Snam, Ermoli said the firm intends to establish an office base in Athens to manage its activities concerning interests in the southeast Meditteranean region.

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.

Energean farm out to Repsol for 60% of Ioannina block endorsed - ENERGY PRESS

06/09/2017

The energy ministry has endorsed an agreement between Energean Oil & Gas and Spain’s Repsol farming out 60 percent of the former’s exploration and exploitation rights to an onshore block in the Ioannina area, northwestern Greece.

Based on the agreement, signed last March, Repsol will also become the block’s operator.

At the time, the two firms had also reached a farming out agreement for a block in Etoloakarnania. This arrangement still needs to be endorsed in Greek Parliament before the energy ministry offers its approval.

Repsol intends to conduct a 2D seismic survey over the Ioannina block in 2017/2018 followed by an FTG airborne survey and a 2D geophysical seismic survey over the Etoloakarnania block in 2018/2019.

“Repsol’s know-how and Energean’s knowledge of the region undoubtedly reinforce the chances of new discoveries in western Greece and launch the development of the region into a new important reference point for the oil and natural gas sectors,” Energean Group Chairman & CEO Mr. Mathios Rigas had noted in the lead-up to this latest development.

Libyan crude gushes into tankers as nation's output accelerates - WORLD OIL

JUNE/28/2017
RUPERT ROWLING

LONDON (Bloomberg) -- Libyan oil shipments are poised to hit their highest level in at least three years in the latest sign the North African country is managing to sustain a production revival.

Exports are on course to reach about 715,000 bpd this month, the most since July 2014, when Bloomberg began monitoring Libyan shipments, tanker-tracking data show. With relatively limited capacity to process that crude in its domestic refineries, the shipments have been moving in lock-step with production.

Libya’s surging output is a key factor helping to undermine the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries’ efforts to reduce global supply and increase oil prices. The group met last week in Vienna to discuss how to deal with rising production in Libya and Nigeria -- both OPEC nations exempt from supply curbs -- rather than deepening output cuts by other members. U.S. production climbing to the highest since August 2015 has further derailed OPEC’s efforts.

Israel Drilling-rights Auction Draws One Offer So Far; Deadline Extended - HAARETZ

Jun 28, 2017 5:29 AMAvi Bar-Eli

Energy officials put on brave face and extended deadline for proposals for a second time

Israeli energy officials put on a brave face on Tuesday after TheMarker reported that an auction for rights to drill in 24 blocs offshore Israel had attracted only one bid even after the deadline for filing was extended.

TheMarker has learned that the only company to submit a drilling proposal was Greece’s Energean. Two others – Italy’s Edison and Israel’s Shapir Engineering – had purchased the documents and may still act while a fourth – Spain’s Repsol – bought the documents but later backed out.

The Energy Ministry, which had already extended the deadline for submitting proposals to July 10 from February, is extending it a second time to mid-November, officials said.

Repsol joins Greek energy quest with Energean Oil - KATHIMERINI

31.03.2017 : 19:15

Spain’s Repsol has entered a so-called farm-in agreement with Energean Oil & Gas for a 60 percent stake in two onshore blocks in western Greece, Energean Oil said on Friday.

Under a farm-in agreement, an oil and gas company acquires an interest in a lease owned by another group.

Repsol will become the operator of the Ioannina and Aitoloacarnania blocks and plans to acquire seismic surveys over the areas in the 2017-19 period, Energean said.

Energean, Greece’s sole oil producer, holds an exploration license in Ioannina and is expected to acquire one for the other block.

Energean did not disclose the size of the deal, which is subject to Greek approval.

Energean chief executive officer Mathios Rigas said that the agreement was a significant step forward for the development of the Greek oil and gas sector.

Spanish energy giant seeks to accelerate Tamar natural gas deal - ISRAEL HAYOM

Tuesday August 30, 2016

• Union Fenosa Gas is considering expediting its negotiations with the companies controlling Israeli offshore gas field
• If successful, gas will be piped to Spain through Egypt
• Deal requires upward of $1.5 billion investment by Tamar partnership.

Hezi Sternlicht, News Agencies and Israel Hayom Staff

Spanish energy giant Union Fenosa Gas is said to be considering accelerating its negotiations with the Tamar partnership as well as boost the gas quantities included in the deal, the Bloomberg news agency reported Monday.

Tamar gas group plans upgrade, including pipeline to Egypt | Reuters

Tamar gas group plans upgrade, including pipeline to Egypt

JERUSALEM Thu Nov 20, 2014 5:47am EST

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Nov 20 (Reuters) - Israel's offshore Tamar gas field may get a $1.5-$2 billion upgrade, including the construction of an underwater pipeline to an export plant in Egypt run by Spain's Union Fenosa Gas (UFG).

The Tamar group plans to expand production capabilities with new wells, platform upgrades and a pipeline to Egypt if a final supply deal with UFG is signed, Israel's Delek Drilling , one of the partners, said on Thursday.

Tamar has been supplying Israel with natural gas since coming online last year, and in May the partners signed a non-binding agreement to deliver about 4.5 billion cubic meters of gas a year for 15 years to UFG's liquefied natural gas terminal in Egypt.

UFG's plant in Damietta has been idle since 2012 when gas shortages in Egypt led the government to divert supplies to its growing domestic needs.

If the deal is finalised, the U.S.-Israeli group running Tamar would cover pipeline costs up to the maritime border with Egypt and UFG would pay for the rest, Delek Drilling said in its quarterly report.

Total cost would be between $1.5-$2 billion, the company said, and supplies to Egypt would start flowing in 2017.

Union Fenosa Gas is a joint venture between Spain's Gas Natural and Italy's Eni. (Reporting by Ari Rabinovitch; Editing by Mark Potter)

Link to source: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/11/20/israel-gas-egypt-idUSL6N0TA29T20141120