Energy Security Key in Bolstered Cyprus-Egypt Ties - THE NEW YORK TIMES / ASSOCIATED PRESS

Sept. 11, 2019

NICOSIA, Cyprus — Cyprus' defense minister says the east Mediterranean island nation and neighbor Egypt are exchanging information to bolster security around an offshore search for natural gas as part of enhanced defense ties.

Savvas Angelides says the two neighbors' information-sharing extends to countering any extremist threats.

The Cypriot minister says defense ties are also being upgraded between Cyprus, Egypt and Greece as through joint military exercises and personnel exchanges.

Angelides was speaking Wednesday after escorting his counterpart, Lt. Gen. Mohamed Ahmed Zaki, to a meeting with Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades.

Cyprus and Egypt share a sea border delineating their respective exclusive economic zones where each country is carrying out exploratory gas drilling.

Officials said a recent discovery of Egypt's Zohr gas field bodes well for more discoveries in Cypriot waters.

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.

Egypt raps Turkish comments on EEZ delimitation with Cyprus - CYPRUS MAIL

FEBRUARY 7, 2018

No party can question the legitimacy of the delimitation agreement between Egypt and Cyprus and any effort to undermine Egyptian sovereignty in its exclusive economic zone is dismissed and will be addressed, the Egyptian foreign ministry said on Wednesday.

In a statement in response to recent comments by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu questioning the correctness of the delimitation of the exclusive economic zones of Cyprus and Egypt, Spokesman for the Egyptian foreign ministry Ahmad Abu Zeit said, “no party could question the legitimacy of the agreement given that it is in line with the regulations of international law and has been submitted to the United Nations”.

Replying to questions, Abu Zeit warned that any effort to undermine the sovereign rights of Egypt in the region is considered to be rejected and will be addressed.

What lies beneath - EXECUTIVE MAGAZINE

Lebanon must act to keep its seat at the oil and gas table

April 14, 2016 by Roudi Baroudi

Lebanon has missed several opportunities to grow its nascent oil and gas industry at an ideal pace, but now regional developments threaten not just further delays, but also permanent losses unless the country acts to protect its national interests.

The new urgency stems primarily from two principal events. The first was last summer’s discovery of the giant Zohr gas field off Egypt’s northern coast by Italy’s ENI, a find estimated by some to have doubled the North African country’s natural gas reserves overnight. It also significantly increased the likelihood of commercially viable deposits in nearby offshore acreage belonging to Cyprus, Lebanon and Israel. This has sparked renewed interest in this section of the Eastern Mediterranean basin from major international oil companies.

ENI says Zohr gas is all on Egypt’s side - IN CYPRUS / CYPRUS WEEKLY

28/02/2016

Cypriot hopes that the some of ENI’s massive natural gas find offshore Egypt last August might have crossed into the Cyprus Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) were dashed on Friday when the Italian oil and gas major made it clear that the gas was all on the Egyptian side.

“The comprehensive formation evaluation program confirmed the same gas-water contact and connection with the discovery well showing Zohr as a single and continuous mega tank of natural gas, fully comprised in the Egyptian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and within the Shorouk Block,” said ENI, referring to the results of the first Zohr appraisal well.

ENI said that the appraisal well had “excellent reservoir characteristics” with 305 metres ‘net pay’ – a measure of volume.