The objective of US company “Noble Energy” is to start drilling operations in Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone “as soon as possible”, the company’s President David Stover said in Nicosia on Thursday.

Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade Antonis Paschalides said on his part that the government will do everything in its capacity to facilitate the process.

The statements were made here, following a meeting between Paschalides and a delegation of Noble Energy, headed by Stover. The meeting was also attended by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary Zeta Emilianidou.

“Our objective is to drill here as soon as possible. That’s what a lot of discussion was about today. Working together to make sure that we can have everything ready to drill as soon as possible”, Stover said