Israel’s NewMed and partners to connect the Aphrodite gas field off Cyprus to Egypt - THE TIMES OF ISRAEL

31 May 2023, 3:02 pm
Sharon Wrobel

Partners in the Aphrodite natural gas field offshore Cyprus, which include Israel’s NewMed Energy, announced on Wednesday that they were seeking approval from the Cypriot government to build a subsea pipeline that will connect the field to an existing processing and production facility in Egypt.

Israel’s NewMed Energy, formerly Delek Drilling (part of Yitzhak Tshuva’s Delek Group), which owns a 30% stake in the Aphrodite field located in Cypriot waters, said it had presented the Cypriot government with an updated plan for the development of the reservoir, including natural gas processing and production. For this purpose, the Aphrodite partners met with the Cypriot energy minister on Monday to discuss the progress of the development of the reservoir.

The other partners in the Aphrodite gas field, which holds an estimated 124 billion cubic meters of gas, are US energy giant Chevron and Shell, which each own a 35% share.

Egypt, Cyprus focus on natural gas pipeline amid tensions in eastern Mediterranean - AL MONITOR

Sep 13, 2020
Mohamed Saied

At a time when the oil and gas industry is facing economic uncertainty as part of the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic and the decline in global prices as a result of an oversupply, the eastern Mediterranean region is marred by a frantic struggle over natural gas resources.

Eastern Mediterranean countries have rushed to demarcate their maritime borders and exclusive economic zones in a bid to facilitate the gas exploration process.

The United States Geological Survey estimated the natural gas reserve in the Mediterranean in 2017 at 340-360 trillion cubic feet with a financial value ranging between $700 billion and $3 trillion.

In January 2019, Egypt, Cyprus, Greece, Israel, Italy, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority established the Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum in an attempt to create a regional gas market, reduce infrastructure costs and offer competitive prices.

While eastern Mediterranean countries have ambitious projects to gain a foothold in the European market with natural gas exports, the European Union (EU) is seeking alternatives to its dependency on Russian gas, as Russia is the third-largest oil producer in the world.

Dispute with Israel will not affect development of Aphrodite, minister says - CYPRUS MAIL

December 9, 2019

Evie Andreou

The outcome of talks between Cyprus and Israel over a dispute regarding the offshore border with Israel’s Yishai gas field will not affect development of the island’s Aphrodite gas field, Energy Minister Giorgos Lakkotrypis said on Monday.

“First, development of the Aphrodite reserve is going on as planned, and second, as regards the special agreement with Israel, there is a set procedure that is being followed for some time and will continue to be followed,” the minister said.

“But the most important thing I want to stress is that these two things, that is, the development of Aphrodite and the procedure for a special agreement, are not linked as far as the Cypriot side is concerned.”

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.

First exploitation licences set to be issued for Cyprus EEZ - CYPRUS MAIL

July 21, 2019

Katy Turner

The Council of Ministers is expected issue exploitation licences for the Aphrodite field, Energy Minister Giorgos Lakkotrypis said on Sunday.

“Regarding the agreements with Total and Eni, we are currently working on the legal details and they are expected to be brought before the Council of Ministers in the coming days for the relevant decisions,” he said.

As far as the Aphrodite field is concerned he said, “we are in negotiations with the consortium to come up with a jointly acceptable plan for development and production, which must be submitted to the Council of Ministers to issue exploitation licences for the Aphrodite field, marking the first time that such licences will be issued for the Cyprus EEZ (Excusive Economic Zone)”.

This is the third type of licence that is issued to interested companies. The first, a prospecting licence allows the geological evaluation of an area, while the second, an exploration licence allows for exploratory drilling to take place. If a discovery is made, the licensee then has the right be granted an exploitation licence.

El Sisi Approves Egypt-Cyprus Gas Pipeline - EGYPT OIL & GAS

Sunday, 7th July 2019

Presidential decree number 537 for the year 2019 was issued on July 4, approving the governmental agreement between Egypt and Cyprus to establish a direct natural gas subsea pipeline, according to State Information Service.

The pipeline willl transport natural gas from the Aphrodite gas field to Egypt’s liquefaction facilities at Idku and Damietta, and re-export it as liquefied natural gas (LNG).

The agreement between the two countries was signed on September 19, 2018 in Nicosia and the Parliament approved it on March 11, 2019.

Under the agreement, the two parties do not have the right to impose in the conditions related to natural gas obtaining, usage, destination, transport, or supply.

The agreement states that the health, safety and environment (HSE) standards applied in the project should not be less than the European Union (EU)’s HSE standards.

Egypt committed to working with US, highest standards in gas projects - ENTERPRISE

Tuesday, 21 May 2019

El Sisi meets with Noble Energy boss, says Egypt is committed to strengthening ties with the US: A meeting between President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and Noble Energy CEO David Stover tops the front pages of Al Ahram, Al Akhbar and Al Gomhuria this morning. El Sisi used the occasion to reaffirm Egypt’s commitment to strengthening strategic ties with the US and said the country was following the highest standards in its gas exploration and production projects.

Other coverage of the story: Noble, which is helping lead the charge to develop Israeli gas fields and sell the offtake to Egypt, is interested in a helping build a gas pipeline between Egypt and Cyprus, an unnamed Oil Ministry source told Youm7. No further details were provided on the company’s plans. Egypt and Cyprus signed an agreement last year, which would allow natural gas from the Aphrodite gas field to be transported to Egypt’s liquefaction facilities at Idku and Damietta, and re-exported as liquefied natural gas.

Cabinet approves bill for Egypt pipeline deal - CYPRUS MAIL

January 31, 2019
Elias Hazou

The cabinet on Thursday approved a bill governing an inter-state agreement with Egypt for the construction of a subsea natural gas pipeline crossing through the exclusive economic zones of the two nations.

The legislation follows through from, and sanctions, the inter-state pipeline agreement signed between Cyprus and Egypt in September 2018.

Energy minister Giorgos Lakkotrypis was authorised to submit the bill to parliament.

The development came amid media reports on Thursday evening claiming that ExxonMobil has located gas at its second drill site, dubbed ‘Glafcos’, in Block 10.

The report carried by Sigma could not be confirmed. The outlet said announcements of a find could be made in about 10 days’ time.


ExxonMobil declined to comment.

Parliament committee approves gas pipeline construction between Egypt, Cyprus - EGYPT INDEPENDENT / AL-MASRY AL-YOUM

January 27, 2019, 1:49 pm

The Energy and Environment Committee of the House of Representatives on Sunday approved a presidential decree on an agreement between Egypt and Cyprus to build a direct natural gas pipeline, which was signed in Nicosia on September 19, 2018.

The agreement aims to facilitate the export of natural gas from Cyprus to Egypt through the establishment and operation of a direct sea pipeline from the exclusive economic zone of Cyprus, to natural gas liquefaction plants in Idku or Damietta in Egypt.

Mohamed Samir, member of the technical bureau of the Petroleum Ministry, said during the committee’s meeting that the ministry is working in full swing to turn Egypt into a regional center for natural gas trading.

Samir added that negotiations for the agreement lasted three years, and will encourage investors as it marks the beginning of further contracts and agreements to neighboring countries.

Head of the committee Talat al-Sewedy said that the agreement is very important as Cyprus is a gate for Egypt to export gas to EU countries.

Interview: President of Cyprus on Sisi, gas deal, Turkey and Syria - EGYPT INDEPENDENT

December 10, 2018, 2:24 pm
Gamaa Hamduillah

This edited interview of President Nicos Anastasiades, of the Republic of Cyprus, was originally authored by Gamaa Hamduillah and Fady Francis, and published by Egyptian newspaper Al-Masry Al-Youm on Friday, December 7, 2018.

Al-Masry Al-Youm: After the 30 June Revolution, and President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi’s 2014 rise to power in Egypt, the past four years witnessed a great development of Egyptian-Cypriot relations, in all fields and departments. How do you see the future of relations between Egypt and Cyprus, during President Sisi’s second term?

President Anastasiades: Bilateral relations between Cyprus and Egypt are at their highest point ever, and this reflects our readiness to further broaden our ties in the future, and reach the full potential of our partnership, including engaging the private sector. It is always with great pleasure that I meet President Sisi, and I look forward to continuing close work together, with the common aim of promoting peace, stability and prosperity in our region.

House ratifies Egypt-Cyprus pipeline agreement, other recent agreements - ENTERPRISE

Monday, 10 December 2018

The House of Representatives’ Legislative Committee approved yesterday the Egypt-Cyprus agreement to establish a natural gas pipeline connecting Cyprus’ Aphrodite natgas field to liquefaction plants at home, according to Youm7. 

The pipeline will be used to bring in natgas for re-export to Europe, a key element of Egypt’s bid to become an energy hub for the Eastern Mediterranean.

The committee also approved a USD 65 mn grant from USAID to support water infrastructure, and a KWD 100,000 grant from the Arab Fund for Social and Economic Development to purchase equipment for the Theodor Bilharz Research Institute in Giza.

Government dismisses reports on EastMed pipeline as baseless - KATHIMERINI / KNEWS

04 December 2018 - 09:47

The Government has dismissed reports that question the viability of the EastMed pipeline. The proposed EastMed pipeline will transfer natural gas from the Eastern Mediterranean to Europe. Commentators have argued that the project is not economically viable, given the distances and depth involved, pointing out that the final price of the Cypriot natural gas would not be competitive.

Government Spokesman Prodromos Prodromou said on Monday that the reports were baseless, adding that when the necessary consultations will be concluded there will be an agreement among the participating states on the pipeline.

“Results will be announced officially once they have been reached,” he told the press.

Asked about ExxonMobil’s exploratory drill in block 10 of Cyprus Exclusive Economic Zone and the US’ reported intention to build a gas terminal in Cyprus, the Government Spokesman said that “the works proceed normally as the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Energy have established on - site”.

He said that the Government will not decide a priori or preclude any possibility with regard to the commercial exploitation of the gas fields and that the best decisions will be made depending on the technical and economic data.

Global Investment Firms Show Interest in Funding Cyprus Gas Pipe - BLOOMBERG

October 10, 2018, 10:27 AM GMT+3
Yaacov Benmeleh

• Four financial firms in contact with Cyprus govt on pipeline
• Pipe would transport Cyprus gas to Shell’s LNG plant in Egypt

Four major investment firms expressed interest in financing the construction of a pipeline that would transport natural gas from Cyprus to Egypt, according to a Cypriot official involved in the country’s energy sector.

The banks and investment houses asked the Cypriot government for more information on the progress of the Aphrodite reservoir, whose gas Royal Dutch Shell Plc is considering buying for its facility in Egypt, said Sofronis Papageorgiou, head of commercial affairs at the Cypriot embassy in Israel. He declined to disclose the names of the firms.

The Aphrodite field has sat undeveloped since its discovery in 2011, the first in Cypriot waters, but companies and regional governments are working to change that. Last month, Egypt and Cyprus signed an inter-governmental agreement to facilitate commercial deals, while the owners of the gas pool -- Shell, Texas-based Noble Energy Inc. and Israel’s Delek Drilling LP -- continue to hammer out a contract to service the liquefied natural gas plant in Egypt called Idku.

Bulgaria interested in joining Egypt-Cyprus-Greece gas project - ENERGY EGYPT

SEPTEMBER 26, 2018 AT 5:32 PM

At a meeting in New York with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, the Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov said that Egypt is Bulgaria’s most important economic partner among the Middle East countries and Africa.

Bulgaria accepts Egypt as a potential supplier of natural gas and would benefit from joining its gas project with Greece and Cyprus.

Besides Bulgaria recognizes Egypt as a country playing a key role for stability in the region of the Middle East and Africa and is open for active cooperation with it in the fight against terrorism, cross-border crime and radicalization at all levels, Borissov also said.

Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov said that Egypt is Bulgaria’s key economic and trade partner in the Middle East and Africa, citing the increase in trade exchange between the two countries.

Sofia is highly interested in cooperation with Egypt in the energy field, Borissov said during a meeting with President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi on the sidelines of the 73rd UN General Assembly meetings in New York.

Cyprus Pipeline Deal With Egypt Brings Gas Step Closer to Europe - BLOOMBERG

September 19, 2018, 12:27 PM GMT+3

Georgios Georgiou and Ahmed Feteha

• Gas would flow from Aphrodite field to Egyptian LNG plants
• Countries committed to maintaining good conditions for project

Egypt and Cyprus signed a deal that will eventually allow natural gas found in the Aphrodite field to be sold to mainland Europe, boosting plans to turn the Eastern Mediterranean into an energy hub.

Cyprus and Egypt committed to establishing and maintaining good conditions for building a gas pipeline between the two countries, including the timely issuance of permits, Cypriot Energy Minister Georgios Lakkotrypis told reporters at a signing ceremony in Nicosia. The accord will allow further exploration in the region, Egypt’s Oil Minister Tarek El-Molla said.

Under the plan, gas will flow to Egypt from the Aphrodite field, which was discovered by Noble Energy Inc. and contains an estimated 4.5 trillion cubic feet of gas. Egypt is also nearing an agreement to receive gas from Israel’s Tamar and Leviathan deposits, operated by Israel’s Delek Drilling as well as Noble. Supplies would be directed to LNG plants in Egypt, some 400 miles (645 kilometers) south of Cyprus.

Remarks by the Minister of Energy, Mr Y. Lakkotrypis, at the signing of the agreement between Cyprus and Egypt for the submarine natural gas pipeline - PRESS AND INFORMATION OFFICE, REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS

19-SEPT-2018 12:01

On the occasion of the signing of the Intergovernmental Agreement, between the Republic of Cyprus and the Arab Republic of Egypt, concerning a direct submarine natural gas pipeline, I welcome to Cyprus my good friend, Egypt’s Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Mr Tarek El Molla, as well as his associates. I also extend a warm welcome, on behalf of the Government of Cyprus, to the Head of the International Relations and Enlargement Unit, of the Directorate-General for Energy of the European Commission, Mrs Anne-Charlotte Bournoville, and, of course, to the representatives of our partners in the “Aphrodite” natural gas field, the consortium of Noble Energy, Shell and Delek.

Today’s signing is an important milestone, not only for Cyprus but also the entire Eastern Mediterranean region. It constitutes, for Cyprus, another crucial step towards its goal to efficiently exploit the underwater wealth in its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), and specifically gas from “Aphrodite”, for the benefit of all Cypriots. In addition, it reinforces the joint efforts by the countries in the Eastern Mediterranean to establish the synergies required for attracting the multibillion infrastructure investments for hydrocarbons production and transport.

Cyprus, Egypt sign gas pipeline agreement - CYPRUS MAIL

TEKMOR note: Great news for the region,not just Egypt & Cyprus.

SEPTEMBER 19, 2018

George Psyllides

Egypt and Cyprus on Wednesday signed an agreement for the construction of an underwater pipeline to export natural gas to Egypt.

The deal was signed at the presidential palace by Energy Minister Yiorgos Lakkotrypis and Egypt’s Oil Minister Tarek el Molla.

Lakkotrypis said the agreement aimed at ensuring the timely and safe development, construction, and operation of an underwater pipeline directly to Egypt through the two countries’ exclusive economic zones.

Cyprus, Egypt Set to Sign Deal for Offshore Gas Pipeline - NEW YORK TIMES / ASSOCIATED PRESS

Sept. 18, 2018

NICOSIA, Cyprus — Europe stands to gain from an agreement Egypt is set to sign with the Mediterranean island nation of Cyprus to pipe offshore natural gas to processing plants in the north African country where it will be liquefied for export, Egypt's oil minister said Tuesday.

Tarek el-Molla said that under the terms of the agreement, gas off Cyprus could also be used for Egypt's domestic needs.

"So it is really a way to have ... good, win-win positions for not only Cyprus and Egypt, but also for Europe," El-Molla told reporters after talks with Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades.

Cyprus' energy minister, Georgios Lakkotrypis, called the agreement— to be signed Wednesday — a first of its kind for the region that could bolster Europe's energy security.

Lakkotrypis said the agreement could act as an example for other neighboring countries to offer oil and gas companies the kind of security on their investment so they can proceed with projects worth billions.

The Cypriot minister said the agreement concerns building a pipeline from the Aphrodite deposit — estimated to contain around 4.5 trillion cubic feet (130 billion cubic meters) of gas — to Egypt. But it can apply to other gas fields that may be discovered off the island in the future.

"This is a European pipeline because the natural gas that will be conveyed to Egypt from Aphrodite, after the commercial agreements are completed, will find its way to Europe in liquefied form," Lakkotrypis said.

Talks to hammer out a commercial deal for the pipeline will start soon, he said.

Italian company Eni has discovered another gas deposit southwest of Cyprus, but its size hasn't been determined yet. ExxonMobil will begin a hydrocarbon search off Cyprus later this year. France's Total is also licensed to search for gas.

Cyprus and Egypt geared up to sign pipeline agreement - CYPRUS MAIL

Lakkotrypis (R) welcoming El Molla (L) in Cyprus

September 18, 2018 

Peter Michael

Cyprus and Egypt will sign an agreement for an underwater natural gas pipeline on Wednesday, set to be the first of its type for the region, Energy Minister Yiorgos Lakkotrypis said on Tuesday.

Lakkotrypis and his Egyptian counterpart Tarek el Molla had held a meeting in the evening with President Nicos Anastasiades, where they informed him about the negotiations regarding the bilateral pipeline agreement.

A representative from the European Council will also be present at the signing ceremony to be held on Wednesday.

Following the meeting, the president said in a tweet that the agreement for the transfer of natural gas from the Aphrodite field in Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone “is an important milestone” for the field’s exploitation.

“We are looking toward the establishment of a dedicated corridor that will consist of different infrastructures to supply gas to the EU from the Eastern Mediterranean,” Anastasiades tweeted.

Gas pipeline deal reached with Egypt – CyBC - CYPRUS MAIL

AUGUST 6, 2018
Evie Andreou 

Nicosia has reached an agreement with Cairo on a pipeline to connect the Aphrodite gas field in block 12 to Egypt, it was reported on Monday.

According to state broadcaster CyBC, the inter-state agreement is expected to be signed in the autumn.

The two countries had signed in 2017 a preliminary agreement to transport natural gas from Cyprus to Egypt to be liquefied at Egypt’s LNG facilities and re-exported to Europe and other markets.

CyBC, citing diplomatic sources, said that the agreement has already been given the green light by the EU and it is being scrutinised for the final touches.

Cyprus demarcated its maritime border with Egypt in 2003. The Aphrodite gas field, discovered in December 2011 by Houston-based Noble Energy, is estimated to hold some 4.5 trillion cubic feet of gas.