Energy Minister George Papanastasiou has highlighted the importance of the US interest for zero Russian gas supplies to Europe and the provision of natural gas from other sources, noting also the significance for Eastern Mediterranean.
In statements to the Cyprus News Agency, the Minister referred to the revival of the 3+1 scheme and the discussions that took place last week in Athens, during the Sixth Partnership for Transatlantic Energy Cooperation (P-TEC), organised by the Atlantic Council.
He explained that the P-TEC discussed the Eastern Mediterranean and the natural gas supply corridor to supply Northern Europe with a natural gas import point being in Alexandroupolis.
Papanastasiou said that the aim "is essentially to stop gas being pumped from Russia to Europe".
He added that discussions were held and agreements were signed, which connect the supply chain and the entire corridor, from the point of entry to the point of destination. Discussions also took place around the deposits of the Eastern Mediterranean that concerned Israel, which welcomed the creation of a pipeline connecting Israel's natural gas network with Cyprus.
Papanastasiou said that Cyprus also raised the issue of deposits and the exploitation and commercialisation of the Republic’s deposits that will transfer liquefied natural gas to the region, via a station in Egypt and in particular in the city of Damietta.
"The Americans were more interested in stopping, interrupting any supply of natural gas from Russia to Europe," he said.
The Energy Minister explained that the discussions concerned the US interest in zero supply of Russian gas to Europe and its replacement with natural gas originating from other sources, such as the American LNG, gas originating from the region. For this reason, he added, the deposits of the Republic of Cyprus may also constitute a complementary quantity to the large quantities needed to fill this corridor and also Israel.
"So essentially the three countries that are involved in the availability of natural gas with an import point of Alexandroupolis are the United States, Cyprus and Israel", he explained, also referring to the importance of the signatures for drilling in the Ionian Sea.
Responding to a question, the Minister stressed the importance of the announcement issued for the 3+1 scheme, saying that "reading the announcement itself and between the lines, energy projects are essentially being promoted in the region and most of these projects concern Cyprus and Greece".
"One [project] that may not have been mentioned by name, but that is what is indicated, is the GSI, basically the electrical interconnection of Israel, Cyprus, Greece, which is essentially supported by the 3+1 announcement and the Ministers of the four countries, as well as the creation of an energy center, which will monitor the energy projects of the region," he said.
Papanastasiou also explained that the procedures for this specific energy center, where it will be located and other issues, are still under discussion.
The next 3+1 meeting will take place in the 2nd quarter of 2026, the Minister said, probably in Washington DC.
Papanastasiou also pointed out that the Republic of Cyprus is far ahead, as drilling was done a long time ago, there are confirmed natural gas deposits with more mature ones like those of Aphrodite and Kronos.
He reiterated that Kronos project is already progressing because commercial agreements have been signed, which essentially stipulate the transportation of natural gas from the field to the destination, which is the city of Damietta in Egypt, for liquefaction purposes.
At the same time, he said, the technical preparation of the infrastructure needed to connect Kronos to Zohr which is located within the Egyptian exclusive economic zone, has already begun.
The Minister noted that Kronos is a cross-border project, which has several challenges, but the existence of infrastructure very close to Kronos makes these challenges more manageable and it is possible to locate and bring to the surface Cyprus' gas and transport it towards Damietta for liquefaction.
The Minister stressed that we essentially expect within the next few weeks the most important signing between the sellers, namely the Republic of Cyprus and the buyers, which will be the two companies of ENI and TOTAL.
He also recalled the development with Aphrodite where in February 2025 the development and production plan was signed.
The company, he said, is already implementing the objectives contained in this plan, the techno-economic study is being prepared, which will be submitted within the next year and by the end of 2026 the final investment decision will be made and the natural gas from Aphrodite will end up in Egypt for the purposes of channeling into the country's natural gas network.
Papanastasiou also referred to statements by the Minister of Energy of Israel, whom he described as a supporter of the idea of connecting the natural gas network of Israel with Cyprus, so that Israeli natural gas can be channeled to our country and these pipelines can work in both directions.
The Minister clarified, however, that this was a statement that was made outside the conference, "when the Minister of Energy of Israel returned to Israel and made these statements to the Jerusalem Post".
Responding to a question, he said that these statements were discussed in the 3+1 scheme but "the Israeli [Minister] said it to the Jerusalem Post".
In another question, Papanastasiou said that as the Republic of Cyprus "we have received a letter in which a company located within Israel's EEZ informed us that it would like to proceed with the construction of a pipeline connecting specific Israeli deposits with Cyprus".
(Source: CNA)
