The
energy sector in Cyprus, in relation to both domestic and global
developments, is at a critical juncture, Under Secretary to the
President Titos Christofides said in a speech on behalf of President
Demetris Christofias at the Energy Gas Storage Summit 2012 in Prague.
Christofides noted that the strategic
position of Cyprus in the Mediterranean Sea, in conjunction with the
recent gas discoveries in the region and plans for their export, could
promote the island as an alternative and fully flexible gas (LNG)
storage hub for the European Union and the rest of the world.
According to Christofides, the recent
discovery of substantial quantities of natural gas within the Exclusive
Economic Zone of Cyprus, in combination with the potential utilization
of other gas deposits and future gas findings in the area, opens up new
prospects and gives a large new impetus to the role of Cyprus in the
global energy map and the European energy market.
The total amounts of natural gas
reserves of the Eastern Mediterranean basin, estimated at 120-150
trillion cubic feet, comprise a significant reserve which could satisfy
the energy demand of the EU for a long time, he pointed out, noting that
Cyprus reserves are situated at only 500 Kilometers away from the
southern part of continental Europe.
Christofides said that the Republic of
Cyprus is now entering the economic and technological fields of energy
resources exploration for the very first time in its history. As a
consequence, it needs to create all necessary institutional, legal,
operational, technological, and construction facilities from scratch,
based only on its existing, efficient and tested institutions which have
contributed to the successful economic growth of our country during the
last few decades, he added.
Cyprus, he continued, is also dependent
on the experiences and models of management of natural energy resources,
of countries such as Norway, Holland as well as others. The
delimitation of the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Republic of Cyprus by
itself also encompasses an act of self-fortification and self
reassurance of our non- negotiable sovereign rights, he noted.
As he said the announcement made by
Noble Energy International in December 2011 regarding the discovery of
significant reserves of natural gas in block 12 (also known as the
Aphrodite block), in the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Republic of
Cyprus, of some 5-8 trillion cubic feet, has placed Cyprus on the energy
resources map of the world.
”Based on this discovery, we have
proceeded in opening a second round of licensing for the remaining
twelve out of thirteen available blocks. The deadline for the
proclamation of interest regarding this second round of licensing
procedure, expired on the eleventh of May, a date within the ninety days
period, specified by the relevant directives of the European Union. The
interest shown by medium to large enterprises was, by all accounts,
beyond our expectations,” he noted.
He added that in the context of the
development of indigenous natural gas deposits, the possibility of
installing a sub-sea pipeline for the transportation of natural gas in
Cyprus, so that it can then be distributed for domestic use, is of
utmost importance and is currently under examination.
”Additionally, we are currently
evaluating the potential establishment of the necessary infrastructure
for liquefying the natural gas for export. A gas liquefaction plant in
Cyprus can constitute the necessary regional energy infrastructure that
may contribute to the diversification of supply sources and the security
of energy supply, since it could serve as a flexible hub/interface for
the large quantities of natural gas located in the greater Eastern
Mediterranean Sea also known as the Levantine basin,” he said.
Recently fifteen bids from five
companies and 10 from joint ventures were submitted for the second
licensing round concerning the Republic of Cyprus’ offshore hydrocarbon
reserves.
Bids were submitted for 9 of the 12 offshore blocks, comprising the Cypriot Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
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.
The first licensing round, concluded in
2007, resulted in granting concessions to Houston-based “Noble Energy”
for exploratory drilling in Cyprus’ EEZ block 12. Noble started drilling
in September 2011.
The government approved on November 23, 2011 the launch of a second licensing round for the remaining 12 offshore blocks.
http://www.defencegreece.com/index.php/2012/05/cyprus-can-become-a-gas-storage-hub-for-the-eu-says-government/
Source: famagusta-gazette.com
Δεν υπάρχουν σχόλια:
Δημοσίευση σχολίου