Strict adherence to timetables is among the Government’s energy planning priorities, Government Spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis has said, adding this was something which was discussed during a meeting President Nikos Christodoulides and Javier La Rosa, the new President of Chevron (BAEC), in New York.
In statements to journalists after the 22 September meeting, the Government Spokesperson said that it was the first meeting of the President of the Republic with the new President of Chevron.
"It was an initial meeting in which the President of the Republic reaffirmed the close cooperation of the Republic of Cyprus with Chevron, as well as the fact that the presence of such a company in the Cypriot EEZ constitutes a vote of confidence," he noted.
Letymbiotis added that "the timetables that have been set were discussed."
According to the Spokesperson, it is well known "that in the Government’s energy planning, strict adherence to timetables is a priority, and what was discussed is that so far all timetables are being observed.”
Letymbiotis said that the completion of the "prefit" is expected by the end of the year, while offshore geotechnical and geological surveys for subsea installations and for the pipeline route to Egypt have already been underway since June.
President Christodoulides and the company’s representatives "have agreed to remain in close, regular contact, as well as with the competent Ministry and with him personally, because the interest in implementing our energy plans is significant,” he noted.
The Spokesperson referred to the recent agreement with Egypt, which he described as a “very important, landmark agreement that has created the conditions for the development of the field as soon as possible.”
“In this direction, the main goal and at the core of our efforts is the development of the natural wealth of the Cypriot EEZ as quickly as possible, to the benefit first and foremost of the Cypriot consumer, but also for the growth and exploitation of our natural wealth,” he said.
Asked whether this vote of confidence from Chevron also sends messages in light of geopolitical developments, the Spokesperson replied:
“That is a given. The fact that a company like Chevron has been present and investing in the Cypriot EEZ for years, with a dynamic presence, sends messages in all directions. The fact that Chevron and the Republic of Cyprus have a very close cooperation, as well as the company’s commitment to developing the ‘Aphrodite’ field—the first field where natural gas was discovered in the Cypriot EEZ—constitutes a strong vote of confidence both in terms of developing our natural wealth and regarding the geopolitical significance of the Cypriot EEZ.”
(Source: CNA)
Also read: Chevron's presence in Cyprus EEZ "a strong vote of confidence," President says
