Cyprus to adopt new strategy for exploiting Aphrodite gas by 2025 - FINANCIAL MIRROR

27 August, 2019

A multi-billion-dollar revised development and production plan for exploiting the Aphrodite gas field within six years is expected to be received by the government within days, said Energy Minister Giorgos Lakkotrypis.

According to the timeframes given by the consortium, the gas field is expected to produce natural gas by 2025.

Cyprus expects to earn $9.3 bln over 18 years from exploiting its Aphrodite gas field after Nicosia renegotiated the contract in June.

A re-working of the production contract ensures Nicosia receives an average yearly income of 520 million dollars over the lifespan of the gas field. The figures are based on the average price of oil being around $70 a barrel.

Previously the consortium - Texas-based Noble Energy, which is the operator, British-Dutch giant Shell and Israel’s Delek - had no obligation to stick to a timeline, now natural gas is expected to flow from Aphrodite and be pumped to Egypt via a pipeline.

Scrutinising the Aphrodite gas deal - CYPRUS MAIL

June 9, 2019

Charles Ellinas

This week’s deal with Noble, Delek and Shell divvying up the profits from the Aphrodite gas-field is not quite what it seems at first glance

The good news is that an agreement has been reached between the government and the Noble Energy, Delek and Shell joint venture (JV) on a revised Production Sharing Contract (PSC) for the development of the Aphrodite gas-field.

Based on published reports the agreed profit split is now about 57 per cent to Cyprus and 43 per cent to the JV, when the price of oil is $70/barrel – with Cyprus’ share going up when the oil price goes up and down when the oil price goes down. With long-term forecasts estimating the average oil price range to be $60-$70/barrel, there can only be a downside for Cyprus. That’s why the JV was so keen on this renegotiation.

There are also new provisions to ensure development of Aphrodite within a strict timetable, with penalties to the JV if it is not. This of course is what the JV wants too – to develop the project as soon as possible.