French Ambassador to Cyprus Jean-Luc Florent was asked on Friday to comment on the on going negotiations following Total’s decision last month to abandon its offshore exploration activities.

Speaking during an informal briefing at EU House in Nicosia, Florent said the French government had been disappointed, as were Total and the Cyprus government over the company’s conclusion that there was no real potential to justify drilling in blocks 10 and 11.

He said however that the French government was not involved in the on going negotiations between the company and the Energy Ministry aiming to draft an agreement that would allow for more time to conduct seismic surveys in block 11.

The situation would be assessed anew in a year’s time, the ambassador said.

Source: Cyprus Mail