"Solution to the Cyprus problem must precede any conversation” with Turkey, Cyprus’ Energy, Commerce, Industry and Tourism Minister Yiorgos Lakkotrypis said on June 23, on the sidelines of a conference south of Athens, asked if there were discussions with Ankara about building a pipeline via Turkey to export gas to Europe.
"We feel that the discoveries of hydrocarbons in the Eastern Med – not only Cyprus but in general – could be a catalyst, an incentive for Turkey to come to terms and help resolve the Cyprus issue. From there on, there on there’re negotiations going on right now and we hope that we will sustainably solve this long, long-standing problem,” Lakkotrypis said.
The key market for Mediterranean gas is Europe, he said, adding the proposed East-Med pipeline and liquefied natural gas (LNG) are two of the major export options under consideration.
Lakkotrypis said that following discussions with Greece’s DEPA, the East-Med pipeline, which will connect the recently discovered gas fields in the Levantine Basin, in the southeast Mediterranean, with mainland Greece and is projected to carry 8-14 billion cubic metres of natural gas per year to Greece and Europe, seems to be a viable project.
"It appears that it is technically, financially [viable] so we’re very closely monitoring the results. They’re working with some of the companies that we have in Cyprus operating and we look forward to see how mostly the market evolves,” Lakkotrypis told New Europe.
Asked if tensions between Ankara and Moscow and EU’s efforts to reduce reliance on Russia, is a good opportunity for Cyprus to step in and boost EU energy security, the minister said, "Absolutely. We’re in constant conversation with the European Union, [European Commission Vice President for Energy Union] Maroš Šefčovič was in Cyprus a few months ago and he outlined how important the East Med is becoming to the EU and we will continue to focus on finding the best techno-economic ways to transport the gas to the European markets”.
Asked about cooperation with Israel and Tel Aviv looking at exporting LNG to Europe, via Egypt, Lakkotrypis said, "We’re investigating that possibility as well”. He added that existing LNG terminals in Egypt could be used to export gas from the Eastern Mediterranean to Europe. "We’re looking at all possible options. Again, the key challenge that we all face today are the market conditions,” he said.
https://www.neweurope.eu/article/without-reunification-cyprus-eu-gas-pipeline-will-detour-turkey/
