Project manager Technip's study on the Terminal at Vasilikos is anticipated to be delivered to the Natural Gas Infrastructure Company (ETYFA) toda, Friday, 19 December, the findings of which will determine the next steps for the completion of the project.
At the same time, the installation of the necessary components of the 'Prometheus' floating unit is nearing completion, so that it can sail from Malaysia in January, either to Cyprus or to a terminal in another country for its final certification.
In his statements to InBusinessNews, the Chairman of ETYFA, George Ashikalis, stated that "based on what had been agreed, the project manager's study will be delivered to us today, Friday."
"Of course, to evaluate it in depth, it will take around 15 days," he added, noting that "hopefully, early in the new year we will have actual knowledge of the results, so that we can then make our decisions on how to proceed with the project."
That is, he explained, "if we proceed to stage two to complete any deficiencies in the plans, certify the materials and any additional studies that may need to be carried out, in order to prepare the documents and allow interested bidders to have a clear picture of the project and be able to make their bid based on real facts."
'Prometheus' floating unit
Regarding the 'Prometheus' floating unit, when asked about it, Ashikalis said that "the process is in the final stages and in January it will be able to sail and go wherever it needs to be certified."
Asked to say whether the country where the ship will go has been selected, the Chairman of ETYFA told InBusinessNews that final decisions have not yet been made.
For this purpose, he pointed out, "we are conducting a study to find a terminal or whether we will bring it directly to Cyprus and wait for the completion of our own terminal to be certified, because certification can also be done at our own terminal."
Therefore, he stressed, "the options we are considering are whether to find a terminal that is already ready for the necessary procedure to be carried out or (for it) to come to Cyprus until the terminal is completed and certified."
UAE interest
In relation to the interest that the United Arab Emirates is reportedly showing in the Terminal, Ashikalis indicated that "we do not yet have official information on the matter and therefore, we cannot comment on anything."
"However, what I have understood from what has been said and written so far is that the UAE is interested in investing in mature projects and may consider the terminal in Vasilikos to be a mature project," he concluded.
It is noted that the interest of the United Arab Emirates, both for the Terminal at Vasiliko, as well as for a series of other mature projects, was confirmed in their statements by both the Minister of Energy, Michalis Damianos, and the Secretary General of the CCCI, Philokypros Roussounides.
(Source: InBusinessNews)
