Further to the second item above, the upcoming Cyprus bid round may be one of the best opportunities of the year — to build a new oil and gas empire.
When the tiny Mediterranean nation offers up its offshore acreage this summer, all eyes will be on the “usual suspects” in this part of the world. Namely, Italian major Eni — who operates the massive Zohr natgas discovery next-door in Egyptian waters. And others mid-tiers like Noble Group, who work nearby in the Israeli offshore.
And there could well be some surprises when it comes to bidders for the Cyprus licenses. Especially from Russian firms — with that nation having shown a surprising level of interest in the eastern Mediterranean energy scene. Don’t be surprised to see a Gazprom or Rosneft pop up in the mix.
