The prospects of the Cypriot natural gas and the role of Cyprus in the region seem to be important, after discussions at the Informal Council of EU Energy Ministers.
The Cypriot Minister of Energy Yiorgos Lakkotrypis referred to the exploration of gas fields in Cyprus` Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and in the wider southeast Mediterranean to strengthen the energy security of the EU.
"The construction of an onshore gas liquefaction plant in Cyprus and the emergence of Cyprus as an energy hub is at the top of our energy priorities," said the Minister.
Lakkotrypis supported the immediate implementation of projects that will help to reduce energy isolation of the Member States and enhance EU energy security. He noted that the possibility of additional funding for these specific projects should be examined more extensively as they contribute to the achievement of EU priorities.
Based on the discussion of the Ministers, the European Commission will draft a strategy for the security of energy supply, which will consist of an in-depth analysis of the situation and a study to reduce EU energy dependency. These studies will be discussed at the Council of Energy Ministers in mid-June and the European Council that will follow.
At the same time an industry source involved in negotiations with Russia has told Reuters that the geopolitical instability underlines the need for an all-European solution to bring gas from Israel and Cyprus to Western Europe. "That would create a win-win situation that would also improve the prospects for a peace settlement in Cyprus," said the source.
According to Reuters, analysts say that the crisis over Ukraine has transformed the assessment of risk on investing in energy infrastructure in Cyprus. "The energy security scenario is completely changed and none can exclude that more expensive investments will be done in the light of energy security, more than on return of investments," said Pasquale De Micco, a national expert from the European Parliament’s policy department.
On the sidelines of the Council, Lakkotrypis met with EU Energy Commissioner Gunther Oettinger and the Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA) Maria van Der Hoeven.
Lakkotrypis also held a private meeting with his Greek counterpart and President of the EU Energy Council Yannis Maniatis. The two Ministers reaffirmed their close ties and good cooperation between the two countries in the energy sector.
Lakkotrypis briefed the Greek Minister on recent developments in hydrocarbon exploration in the EEZ of Cyprus and government plans for the creation of the onshore gas liquefaction plant in Cyprus. Maniatis briefed the Cypriot Minister on developments to promote the EastMed gas pipeline between Israel, Cyprus and Greece.
Source: Famagusta Gazette
