- Cyprus : Cyprus in middle of regional clash
- economy : Our view: Interminable discussions with unions doing nothing to...
- Cyprus : Asgata residents face off with army
- Cyprus : ‘Christofias’ testimony rife with contradictions’
- Cyprus : Denktash slips back
- CTO : Yachts to be brought ashore at Larnaca marina
- Cyprus : State must ‘get its act together’ on natural gas
- Cyprus : Demand for electricity stabilises
- Cyprus : Jobless rate grows again in August
- Cyprus : Lonely Planet lauds Aphrodite’s Rock as romantic hotspot
Tagsoil
‘All necessary measures against ‘belligerent Turkey’
THE government yesterday expressed its readiness to take ‘all necessary and appropriate measures’ to tackle Turkish intervention in its eastern Mediterranean gas exploration.
Responding to thinly veiled threats of naval intervention by Turkish EU Minister Egemen Bagis, Defence Minister Demetris Eliades said: “'The government, acting in concert with Athens, is monitoring closely developments and takes all necessary actions on all levels as appropriate.”
Eliades’ comments echoed those of Foreign Minister Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis during an EU foreign ministers’ summit in Poland at the weekend, after Turkey’s foreign minister Ahmet Davutoglu raised the issue of gas exploration... 7 comments
A problem-solving lubricant
Cyprus’ much-anticipated hydrocarbon reserves should be used to help solve the Cyprus problem
NATURAL resources, if properly managed, are a blessing for the country which is lucky to discover and exploit them in a sustainable manner with the minimum environmental impact... 6 comments
Israeli energy talks ‘very serious’
FOREIGN Minister Erato Kozakou Markoullis flies to Israel tomorrow for talks that will include energy collaboration between the two nations but also the recent Turkish threats over Cyprus’ bid for offshore hydrocarbon exploration.
Markoullis said the trip’s agenda would include discussion of exploratory drilling in Block 12, a natural gas prospect within Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
The visit is taking place at the invitation of Markoullis’ Israeli counterpart Avigdor Lieberman.
Markoullis described the upcoming talks with Israeli officials as “very serious”, but declined any comment as to their expected outcome... 6 comments
‘It’s our sovereign right’
THE GOVERNMENT is exercising its sovereign rights to explore for hydrocarbon reserves in its Exclusive Economic Zone, said Commerce Minister Praxoulla Antoniadou said yesterday after meeting with Noble Energy officials.
The newly-appointed minister said the “informative” meeting was held so both sides could get to know each other and update the existing schedule for drilling in Cyprus’ south-eastern Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
Noble has a concession to drill for hydrocarbons in Block 12, an 800,000-acre economic zone, which borders Israeli waters where studies suggest massive gas fields exist under the seabed... 14 comments
‘Turkish Cypriots will sign their own international exploration deals’
THE TURKISH Cypriot side will launch its own offshore exploration if Cyprus does not suspend its drilling date, Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu’s Special Representative Kudret Ozersay said yesterday.
He said the only reason they had been holding off until now was for the sake of the Cyprus negotiations “because such options could make it harder to reach a solution to the Cyprus problem”.
“The Cyprus Turkish side will sign its own international agreements for oil and gas exploration should the Greek Cypriot administration not suspend its exploration and drilling activities,” said Ozersay... 6 comments
Oil and gas for benefit of all Cypriots
GOVERNMENT plans to begin exploration drilling for oil and gas reserves will go ahead in six weeks as planned, the Energy Service confirmed yesterday.
And if successful the endeavour will be for the benefit of all Cypriots, both Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot, it said.
“We will begin drilling on October 1, perhaps even a week earlier,” said its director, Solon Kassinis.
He added: “We are operating in line with international law on these issues. We’ve done everything. Environmental studies that no one else has done even if the drilling is explorative. Therefore we are moving forward based on international law and what we find will not only be for the Greek Cypriots. We never said something like that. It is for all legal residents of Cyprus... 1 comment
‘Nothing will stop drilling’
ALTHOUGH the government is taking Turkey’s reaction to its upcoming plans for natural gas exploration off its southern coast very seriously, nothing will deter its plans to begin drilling, the Foreign Minister said yesterday.
FM Erato Kozakou-Marcoullia said Cyprus had launched its exploration plans in line with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and that it would go ahead with those plans.
“We are taking Turkey’s threats seriously and are doing everything possible,” she added.
Kozakou-Marcoullis was speaking in response to Turkish media reports regarding Turkey’s latest reaction to the government’s drilling plans in collaboration with Israel this autumn... 17 comments
Our View: Turkey’s arguments against oil and gas drilling are both childish and unconvincing
WITH THE September 21 drilling date getting closer by the day, Turkey has stepped up the rhetoric on Cyprus’s oil and gas exploration.
After threats last week from Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu that Ankara would “take appropriate measures” if Greek Cypriots went ahead, Turkey has now asked Washington to aid in postponing the drilling, which is being carried out by an American company.
Turkey says the drilling is “unlawful and in violation of international law” and will negatively affect Cyprus settlement talks because it would “sap Greek Cypriot desire for a solution”, a Turkish Foreign Ministry official told mainland newspaper Hurriyet on Sunday... 6 comments
Drilling for oil and gas to start by October 1
DRILLING FOR natural gas off the southern coast of Cyprus will begin on or before October 1, after which the country will get a concrete picture of how rich its resources are, said Energy Service director Solon Kassinis yesterday.
Cyprus has signed a production-sharing contract with Houston-based Noble Energy. The company has a concession to explore for hydrocarbons in an offshore field in its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) south-east of Cyprus, known as Block 12.
The energy chief said drilling would start by October 1 latest after which, in approximately two months time Cyprus will have a clear view of the size of its hydrocarbons reserves for that block.
The government will then proceed with a second round of licensing for other blocks in the region... 3 comments
