Nicosia, Cyprus. Cyprus Energy Minister Michalis Damianou said negotiations on the Cronos natural gas discovery are in their final stages, with first gas targeted for late 2027 or the first half of 2028.
Cronos negotiations and export route
Damianou said negotiations on Cronos, operated by a consortium of Eni and TotalEnergies, are close to completion. He said gas is expected to be routed through Egypt’s Zohr field before reaching European markets.
“If we reach an agreement within the next one to two weeks, we are targeting first gas by the end of 2027 or the first half of 2028,” he said, describing the development as positive for Cyprus and the wider region.
Aphrodite field timeline
Damianou said the Aphrodite field was progressing according to plan. He said Chevron is advancing the front-end engineering and design (FEED) phase until January 2027, with a final investment decision expected within six months.
“We are targeting first gas in 2030 or 2031, and this is within schedule,” he said, adding that output would be transported to Egypt via pipeline.
ExxonMobil discoveries
Damianou said discoveries by ExxonMobil were progressing on schedule, with first gas expected around 2033 due to technical requirements.
EU energy policy and infrastructure beyond 2030
Speaking after chairing a meeting under Cyprus’ presidency of the Council of the EU, Damianou said natural gas can support energy security in the short to medium term, but infrastructure beyond 2030 must be assessed against the bloc’s climate and clean energy targets.
Presenting the outcome of the meeting, he said discussions focused on building a competitive, resilient and strategically autonomous EU, with coordinated action and accelerated electrification aimed at reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels.
Electricity storage and grid stability
He said ministers examined the role of electricity storage in ensuring grid stability and supporting the transition to a climate-neutral economy by 2050, including ways to remove regulatory barriers and strengthen cross-border cooperation.
Potential LNG supply to Europe
Damianou said Cyprus could begin supplying liquefied natural gas to Europe within approximately two years if progress on Cronos is finalised, adding that natural gas would act as a “bridge fuel” during the transition to cleaner energy and hydrogen technologies.
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