Under-sea drilling to explore any hydrocarbon reserves in Cyprus` Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) will enter the second stage on Wednesday evening, Director of the Energy Service at the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, Solon Kassinis has said.
In an interview with the London Greek Radio (LGR), Kassinis said that US company `Noble Energy` has already begun exploration “without any problems“, adding that the first stage of drilling has already been concluded.
“We have passed the first stage which included the first tubing of a 36 inches diameter. Tonight they will proceed to the second stage, to 900 metres. Everything is proceeding well and we wish and hope to have positive results as regards locating hydrocarbon deposits“, he stressed.
He reiterated that any natural resources found in Cyprus’ EEZ would be to the benefit of all legitimate citizens of the Republic of Cyprus. “Nobody questions the fact that this wealth would be to the benefit of all legitimate inhabitants of Cyprus. We have expressed this position several times”, he underlined.
Asked when the first results will be known, the Cypriot official said that according to the schedule this could take two to three months, or 73 days.
Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism Praxoulla Antoniadou also briefed her EU counterparts on the drilling to explore hydrocarbon reserves in Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
Houston-based ‘Noble Energy’, whose drilling rig is already in place, off the island’s southern coast, has begun drilling in Cyprus’ EEZ. The company has a concession to explore for hydrocarbons in an offshore field, south of Cyprus, known as Block 12, or “Aphrodite“ block.
The Minister, who took part in the Informal Council of EU Minister of Energy in Poland on September 19 and 20, underlined the positive impact the exploitation of potential reserves will have on energy security in the EU.
She also referred to President Demetris Christofias’ recent statements about the benefits the Turkish Cypriots will have from the exploitation of hydrocarbon reserves in a reunited Cyprus. Antoniadou noted that Turkey will also benefit from the solution of the Cyprus problem and called on Ankara to contribute towards the solution, on the basis of bizonal, bicommunal federation.
The Minister urged Turkey, which aspires to become an EU member, to fulfill its obligations and respect Cyprus’ sovereign rights and its rights to sign bilateral agreements as well as the rights which derive from the Law of the Sea Convention.
She said that Cyprus envisages peace and cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean and Turkey can become a peace partner.
Turkey has warned that it could deploy warships in the Eastern Mediterranean in response to moves by the Republic of Cyprus to carry out exploratory drilling for natural gas or oil. Ankara has also said it may sign a “bilateral agreement” with the illegal Turkish Cypriot regime, in Turkish occupied Cyprus, if these plans go ahead. Nicosia has pointed out that the Republic is doing nothing more than exercising its sovereign rights as a nation.
Cyprus has signed an agreement to delineate the Exclusive Economic Zone with Egypt and Israel with a view to exploit any possible natural gas and oil reserves in its EEZ. A similar agreement has been signed with Lebanon but the Lebanese Parliament has not yet ratified it.
Energy Ministers discussed a Commission proposal on energy supply to the EU and international cooperation.
On the sidelines of the Ministerial Council, Antoniadou met with Polish Finance Minister Waldemar Pawlak with whom she discussed matters related to EU Trio Presidency.
Cyprus, an EU member since May 2004, will assume the six monthly rotating EU presidency in July 2012. The trio presidency also includes Poland and Denmark.
