US company for oil and gas, Noble Energy, issued on Thursday a press release, in which it clarifies that it has not held any discussions with any Turkish companies regarding natural gas from Block 12 of Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone going to Turkey.

In response to press reports that have appeared in the past few days, Noble Energy clarifies that “regarding the reports on the interview with Matthew Bryza, Noble Energy has not held any conversations with any Turkish entities regarding natural gas from Block 12 going to Turkey”.

In addition, it notes that “rumors that the company is withdrawing from Cyprus are untrue and unsubstantiated”.

“We are working diligently to fully appraise the natural gas resources of Block 12 and to commercialize those resources for the benefit of the people of Cyprus”, the press release concludes.

Bryza, former US diplomat and current member of the board of directors in the Turkish state owned company Turcas Oil, said in an interview that Noble Energy is holding discussions with Turcas Oil and Zorlu group for the construction of a pipeline for the export of Cyprus’ and Israel’s natural gas to Europe.

Preliminary results of a Noble Energy appraisal well for natural gas in Block 12 of Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone estimate the hydrocarbon reserves between 3.6tcf and 6tcf with a gross mean resource of 5tcf. Noble Energy operates Block 12 with a 70 percent working interest. Delek Drilling Limited Partnership and Avner Oil Exploration Limited Partnership each own 15 percent. Last June the Cyprus government, Delek and Avner signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the construction of a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal in the Cyprus.

The ENI – KOGAS consortium, which has signed a contract for hydrocarbons exploration in blocks 2, 3 and 9 within Cyprus’ EEZ, is planning to drill in the third quarter of 2014, while Total, which has signed a contract for blocks 10 and 11, is also proceeding with drilling in 2015.

Cyprus has been divided since Turkey’s military invasion in 1974. Turkey still occupies 37% of Cyprus` territory. Negotiations to reunify the island have so far failed. A new round of talks resumed in February, following an agreement on a joint declaration by the leaders of the two communities.