Cyprus, Israel look to settle territorial dispute over Aphrodite gas field, approve Egypt’s LNG pipeline - ENTERPRISE

Thursday, 3 May 2018

Cyprus, Israel look to settle territorial dispute over Aphrodite gas field, possibly clearing last barrier to pipeline connecting Aphrodite to Egypt: Cyprus and Israel are looking to settle their ongoing dispute over their respective maritime borders and how much of the Aphrodite gas field in the eastern Mediterranean falls in Israeli territory, the Associated Press reports. Companies with a stake in the field are expected to sit down with Israeli energy firms to reach a solution, and an expert “will be called in to arbitrate” if all else fails, according to Cypriot Energy Minister Yiorgos Lakkotrypis. The dispute appears to be the final hurdle to overcome before Cairo and Nicosia can sign the agreement to establish a pipeline connecting the Aphrodite field to Egypt’s LNG facilities, which requires Israel’s approval.

Egypt, EU sign Memorandum of Understanding for energy cooperation - ENERGY EGYPT / ENTERPRISE / EU

April 24, 2018

Egypt and the European Union continue to share strong bilateral energy relations as well as an understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing the region. Partnership in the energy sector comes on top of the areas of common interest between Egypt and the EU in view of its importance as a driver of economic growth and development for both parties.

EGAS, Snam sign MoU for cooperation in natural gas infrastructure management - BUSINESS REVIEW

23/4/2018 23:09
Marwa Nassar

The Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Co. (EGAS) signed on Monday a memorandum of understanding with Italy's Snam – a leading gas utility in Europe – to cooperate in the field of comprehensive management of natural gas infrastructure.

The memo was inked on the fringe of the EU-Egypt Sustainable Energy Business Forum which was launched in Cairo by Egyptian Minister of Petroleum Tareq El-MOlla and EU Climate Action and Energy Commissioner Miguel Arias Cañete.

Cañete has said "The EU and Egypt are strategic partners on energy. The potential for an even closer energy cooperation between the EU and Egypt is enormous, and I hope this visit will herald a new phase of closer and more intense relations amongst us. Egypt can lead the way of the clean energy transition in the Eastern Mediterranean and thus contribute to the Paris climate goals and the worldwide decarbonisation effort. Likewise, Egypt is becoming an upcoming important gas and electricity hub that can provide energy security for the EU and for the entire region. There is much to gain in terms of access to new sources of energy and market opportunities, for European and Egyptian citizens and businesses alike. The EU stands ready to support Egypt in its energy market reforms and to boost sustainable energy investment."

EU Energy Commissioner Visits Zohr Gas Field - EGYPT OIL & GAS

Monday, 23rd April 2018

Egyptian Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Tarek El Molla and EU Commissioner for Energy and Climate Action Miguel Arias Cañete visited the onshore gas processing facilities at Zohr natural gas field, Egypt Oil & Gas reports.

During the visit, the minister and the accompanying delegation reviewed the amount of work achieved since the discovery of the field, including the phase 2 work that is currently under development.

El Molla and Cañete listened to an explanation from Balaeim Petroleum Company (Petrobel)’s Head, Atef Hassan, on the development of the field, as well as the ongoing construction processes in the onshore station which receives and processes natural gas from Zohr field.

The tour is a part of the program for Cañete’s three-day visit, during which several meetings will be held to review ways to increase cooperation between Egypt and the EU, Egypt Oil & Gas reported.

Egypt and the EU to sign MoU on energy cooperation during Energy Commissioner’s Cairo visit - ENTERPRISE

(L) Miguel Arias Cañete, (R) Tarek El Molla

Sunday, 22 April 2018

Egypt, EU to sign energy cooperation agreement this week: Egypt and the EU are expected to sign an MoU on "Strategic Cooperation in Energy" this week during EU Energy Commissioner Miguel Arias Cañete’s three-day visit to Cairo, which begins today. It’s unclear when exactly the signing will take place and what the agreement will entail. Oil Minister Tarek El Molla had said last week that the agreement is part of a larger plan to turn Egypt into an export hub for East Mediterranean gas, a topic that is expected to feature strongly in Cañete’s talks with Egyptian officials this week, according to a ministry statement picked up by Al Masry Al Youm. “Egypt can lead the way of the clean energy transition in the Eastern Mediterranean and thus contribute to the Paris climate goals and the worldwide decarbonisation effort,” Cañete said. “The EU stands ready to support Egypt in its energy market reforms and to boost sustainable energy investment.”

"We want to diversify our gas supply" - GLOBES

European Energy Commissioner Miguel Arias Cañete (right), with
ministers from Cyprus, Italy, Israel & Greece

3 Apr, 2017 18:36
Nati Yefet

European Energy Commissioner Miguel Arias Cañete explains why financing a gas pipeline from Israel might be worth Europe's while.

Energy relations between Europe and Russia can be described as the golden pipeline. Russia is the largest and most stable supplier of natural gas to Europe, despite the unease of European political leaders. Last year, Russian energy company Gazprom supplied 178 BCM of natural gas to Europe, representing 40% of the continent's total consumption, at the competitive price of $4.5 on average per thermal unit (mmBTU). This power brings Gazprom business ties with many European energy companies, and no change in its status appears to be on the horizon.

Cyprus-talk restart lifts hope for gas line - OIL & GAS JOURNAL

HOUSTON, Apr. 12 2017
By OGJ editors

Prospects improved for construction of a natural gas pipeline between East Mediterranean fields and Turkey Apr. 11 when negotiations over the reunification of Cyprus resumed after a 54-day break.

Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader (Note: of Cyprus' largely secular Turkish Cypriot minority) Mustafa Akinci scheduled four meetings during the next month and a half but set no deadline for an agreement.

Ambitious East Med pipeline plans unveiled in Tel Aviv - IN CYPRUS / CYPRUS WEEKLY

April 3, 2017

Cyprus, Greece, Israel and Italy on Monday presented their plan for construction of a 1,300-kilometer undersea gas pipeline, the longest in the world.

The energy ministries of Israel, Cyprus, Greece, and Italy have over the past six months been conducting frequent talks with the European Commission DG Energy about exporting gas from Israel to Europe.

Israel, meanwhile, is also understood to still be considering a 500km pipeline agreement with Turkey which will involve passing through Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

World's longest underwater gas pipeline from Israel to Europe set to run by 2025 - JERUSALEM POST

April 3, 2017 15:02 
Sharon Udasin 

The proposed 2,000 kilometer (subsea pipeline would connect gas fields offshore Israel and Cyprus with Greece and possibly Italy.

Aiming to transform the Eastern Mediterranean into a regional energy hub, Israeli and European officials signed a joint declaration on Monday to promote the construction of the world’s longest subsea gas pipeline.

"This is the beginning of our wonderful friendship between four Mediterranean countries – Israel, Cyprus, Greece and Italy,” National Infrastructure, Energy and Water Minister Yuval Steinitz said at a press conference in Tel Aviv that morning. "This is going to be the longest and deepest subsea gas pipeline in the world. It's a very ambitious project."

A two-minute video of the signing ceremony here.

EU delegation visits Israel for gas pipeline talks - GLOBES

2 Apr, 2017 18:36
Nati Yefet

With Cyprus and Greece, Israel will present a plan for construction of a 1,300-kilometer undersea gas pipeline, the longest in the world.

The diversification of Europe's sources of natural gas is an important opportunity for taking advantage of the gas discoveries in Israel. The energy ministries of Israel, Cyprus, Greece, and Italy have been conducting frequent talks with the European Commission DG Energy about exporting gas from Israel to Europe for the past six months. European Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy Miguel Arias Cañete is visiting Israel today in order to attend an event tomorrow in Tel Aviv with Minister of National Infrastructure, Energy, and Water Resources Yuval Steinitz, Italian Minister of Economic Development Carlo Calenda, Greek Energy and Environment Minister Giorgos Stathakis, and Cypriot Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism Yiorgos Lakkotrypis. The background to the meeting is a report that the European Commission has withdrawn its opposition to building two additional gas pipelines for transporting gas from Russia to Europe.

Lakkotrypis heading for Israel meetings - CYPRUS MAIL

March 31, 2017

Energy Minister Giorgos Lakkotrypis will depart for Tel Aviv on Sunday where he will participate in a meeting with energy ministers from Greece, Israel and Italy about the East Med gas pipeline on Monday morning.

The meeting, which will conclude with a joint press conference will be held in the presence of the European Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy Miguel Arias Cañete.

According to a PIO (Cyprus Press Information Office) statement the East Med pipeline is a strategic project for the Eastern Mediterranean which aims to create a direct export route for gas supplies in the region to Europe.

EU eyes East Mediterranean gas supplies - NEW EUROPE

March 31, 2017 16:01
New Europe Online/KG

Cañete to visit Tel Aviv on April 3 for EastMed Energy Summit talks with Israel, Greece, Cyprus, Italy

European Union Climate Action and Energy Commissioner Miguel Arias Cañete will travel to Tel Aviv on April 3 to discuss the potential of gas from the eastern Mediterranean region for Europe with the Energy Ministers from Israel, Greece, Cyprus and Italy.

At the ministerial EastMed Energy Summit, the Commissioner and Ministers will discuss East Med developments in the energy sector and options for meeting the needs of the Israeli and European gas markets.

EastMed pipeline commercially viable - CYPRUS MAIL / CNA

January 25, 2017

EastMed pipeline is commercially viable and technically feasible, according to a study presented in Brussels to the EU Directorate-General for Energy and the director generals of the Ministries of Energy of Cyprus, Greece, Israel and Italy.

According to the study conducted by EDISON, the estimated cost of EastMed is 6 billion dollars.

Relevant sources told CNA that after the presentation of the study, there was a discussion between the delegations of the four countries with the European Commission, in order to prepare the meeting of the Energy Ministers of the four countries and the EU Energy Commissioner Miguel Arias Cañete, scheduled for next May in Israel.

Commission insists Greece must privatise 66% of DESFA gas grid - EURACTIV.COM

Miguel Arias Cañete

19 January 2017
Georgi Gotev

Europe’s top energy official said today (19 January) that Greek authorities should privatise a majority stake in Greek gas grid operator DESFA, after a deal collapsed last year.

Under its privatisation programme, an important part of its international bailout, Greece and its biggest oil refiner, Hellenic Petroleum, had agreed to sell the DESFA stake to Azerbaijan’s SOCAR for €400 million.

The deal collapsed in November after Athens passed legislation raising DESFA’s gas tariffs by a lower amount than SOCAR had expected and SOCAR asked for a lower price.

Union for the Mediterranean's Ministerial Conference on Energy - EIN NEWS

Friday, December 2, 2016

Only a few days after the closing of the COP22 conference in Marrakech and concomitantly with the opening of the second edition of the Rome Med Dialogues, today the Farnesina is hosting the Ministerial Conference on Energy of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), with the participation of 43 Countries from the two shores of the Mediterranean sitting around the Mediterranean Table designed by Michelangelo Pistoletto.

The meeting, co-chaired by the European Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy, Miguel Arias Cañete, and Jordan’s Energy Minister, Ibrahim Saif, will engage ministers and diplomats in a discussion on revamping energy cooperation as a source of wellbeing for the whole Region.

Towards Energy Union: The Commission presents sustainable energy security package - EUROPEAN COMMISSION

EC - Press release
Brussels, 16 February 2016

The Commission today presented its energy security package with necessary proposals to equip the EU for global energy transition as well as to be prepared for possible energy supply interruptions.

Energy security dimension is one of the cornerstones of the Energy Union strategy, a key political priority of the Juncker Commission.

Implementing Energy Union: The Commission presents energy security package

The Commission today unveiled a package of energy security measures to equip the EU for global energy transition to address possible energy supply interruptions. Energy security dimension is one of the cornerstones of the Energy Union strategy, a key political priority of the Juncker Commission.