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Cyprus could produce very first natural gas as quickly as 2026, minister says

Cyprus could start producing its first natural gas as quickly as 2026, and prepares to take part in a highpowered power line project connecting the eastern Mediterranean to continental Europe, its energy minister told .

Gas production, and a hook-up to power markets overseas, might be a video game changer for the island and other countries in southern Europe keen to wean themselves off Russian supplies that were interfered with after Russia's intrusion of Ukraine.

Cyprus reported its first offshore gas discovery in 2011, but it is one of the more recent discoveries in 2022 - by a. collaboration of Italy's Eni and France's TotalEnergies. - which is likely to be established initially, Commerce,. Market and Energy Minister George Papanastasiou told .

Our expectation, based on the development and production. strategy that Eni will propose quickly, is 2026, or early 2027,. Papanastasiou stated in an interview.

Eni did not right away react to an e-mail looking for comment.

The task, known as Cronos, has an estimated 2.5 trillion. cubic feet (tcf) of gas. That gas will when it comes online. likely be provided to Eni's Zohr facilities in Egypt, about 70. kilometres (43 miles) away.

We have a discovery there that can be established pretty. quickly, Papanastasiou, a near 40 year veteran of the energy. market, said.

Given that 2007, Cyprus has actually provided expedition licences for many. of the 13 offshore exploration obstructs around the south of the. island. It has discovered gas in five wells at 3 blocks. holding an estimated 17-18 tcf - more than the annual. usage of Europe.

Energy business have actually revealed interest in tapping one or. 2 unlicensed blocks and discussions are underway,. Papanastasiou said.

If, a licensing round for the brand-new blocks might not be necessary. there are excellent reasons, such as remaining in a geologically. similar, contiguous area, he said.

VIDEO GAME CHANGER

Electricity rates in Cyprus can be triple those of its. neighbours. To bring them down, the cabinet has actually chosen in. principle to join an EU-financed project, connecting power grids. from Israel to Europe.

The 1.9 billion euro ($ 2 billion) Great Sea Interconnector. will be able to carry up to 2,000 megawatts and has gathered. interest from funds in Israel, the United Arab Emirates and the. Advancement Financing Corporation, a U.S. government finance. institution.

There is rather some interest, which is precisely what is. required for this really geo-strategic job, Papanastasiou said.

Other potential gas discoveries include Aphrodite, which. holds an approximated 3.5 tcf.

Development of that field was held up after a consortium led. by Chevron submitted a modified plan in 2015 which. Cyprus stated went back on a 2019 agreement to include a drifting. production system.

Authorities expect a so-called optimisation plan from the. business by the end of March.

We have made it definitely clear that we do not wish to. leave from the fundamentals of the 2019 agreement, which is a. floating production unit, Papanastasiou said.

(source: Reuters)