Cyprus Plans First Offshore Gas Production, Eyeing 2027 Start

Cyprus is targeting archetypal offshore state output by precocious 2027, with the Aphrodite and Cronos fields astatine the halfway of its vigor concern with Egypt. Credit: Wikimedia Commons / Petrobras Divulgacao /cc-by-2-0

Cyprus plans to statesman offshore earthy state accumulation by precocious 2027, Energy Minister Michalis Damianos said connected Tuesday, providing a clearer timeline for a long-awaited milestone successful the country’s vigor strategy.

Damianos made the remarks up of an informal gathering of EU vigor ministers successful Nicosia, held arsenic portion of Cyprus’ presidency of the Council of the European Union. The announcement comes arsenic the authorities pushes to accelerate offshore improvement and grow practice with determination and European partners.

A recently signed model statement with Egypt to make state fields wrong Cyprus’ exclusive economical portion represents a cardinal measurement successful that strategy. The deal, signed successful Cairo a time earlier, underscores Cyprus’ committedness to advancing its vigor plans portion strengthening coordination with Egypt and the European Union.

Cyprus sharpens state accumulation timeline

According to Damianos, Cyprus is aiming for its archetypal offshore state accumulation by precocious 2027 portion besides focusing connected turning discoveries into commercially viable projects done determination infrastructure and cross-border partnerships.

The latest statement with Egypt is cardinal to that strategy, arsenic it provides a clearer way to make and monetize offshore reserves. It besides reflects a broader strategical concern betwixt Cyprus and Egypt that extends beyond a azygous field, covering aggregate deposits crossed the Eastern Mediterranean.

Aphrodite remains the astir precocious project

The Aphrodite field, located successful Cyprus’ Block 12 astir 170 kilometers (105 miles) offshore from Limassol, was the country’s archetypal offshore state find and remains the astir mature task successful its improvement portfolio. Estimates enactment its reserves astatine astir 3.6 trillion cubic feet of earthy gas.

A revised improvement program approved successful February 2025 includes a floating accumulation portion supra the reservoir and a pipeline to transport state to Egypt. The task is expected to scope highest offshore state accumulation of astir 800 cardinal cubic feet per day, initially done 4 accumulation wells.

Chevron, Shell, and NewMed Energy are processing Aphrodite done a associated consortium. Under Cyprus’ existent strategy, the tract volition nonstop state to Egypt, wherever it volition beryllium liquefied and sold connected the home Egyptian market.

Cronos boosts Cyprus state output ambitions

The Cronos field, discovered successful 2022 successful Block 6 offshore Cyprus, has emerged arsenic 1 of the astir important state finds successful the eastbound Mediterranean. Eni operates the field, portion TotalEnergies holds the remaining 50 percent stake.

Appraisal enactment astatine the Cronos-2 good confirmed that the find extends farther crossed the artifact and demonstrated beardown productivity. Eni said accumulation investigating indicated imaginable offshore state accumulation of much than 150 cardinal modular cubic feet per time from the good successful its accumulation configuration. The institution besides estimates the tract contains astir 3 trillion cubic feet of discovered resources, with further upside possible.

Unlike Aphrodite, which is much commercially advanced, Cronos is moving much straight toward European demand. Current plans envision exports to Europe done Egyptian infrastructure, reinforcing Egypt’s relation arsenic a determination processing and transit hub.

Egypt concern anchors export strategy

Aphrodite and Cronos volition play antithetic but complementary roles successful Cyprus’ vigor plans. Aphrodite is the nearer-term commercialized task and volition nonstop state to Egypt for liquefaction and merchantability connected the home market. Cronos, meanwhile, is expected to enactment exports to Europe done existing Egyptian offshore and LNG infrastructure.

This attack places the Cyprus-Egypt concern astatine the halfway of the island’s state strategy. The latest model statement strengthens practice crossed aggregate offshore deposits and supports Cyprus’ effort to presumption itself arsenic a much progressive vigor subordinate successful the region.