By Nuran Erkul Gas reserves in the Eastern Mediterranean, along with the solution of Cyprus issue, are likely to reduce both Turkey’s and the EU’s dependence on Russian gas, International Energy Agency (IEA) head said on Friday. Speaking to Anadolu Agency on the sidelines of World Economic Forum in Davos, Fatih Birol, head of the…
Foreign Affairs: Cyprus holds the key to Turkish-Israeli rapprochement
Cyprus in the Middle Nicosia Holds the Keys to Syria, the Migrant Crisis, and Gas in the Eastern Mediterranean By Jonathan Gorvett On a recent December day, people strolling the seaside boardwalk in the Cypriot city of Limassol had their peaceful afternoon suddenly interrupted. Overhead, a brace of British warplanes roared from their base at…
2016 Εast Med Forecast: Geopolitics to rule gas deals
After years of activity accompanied by little action, 2016 has the potential to turn out to be the year of decisions for the Eastern Mediterranean natural gas industry. And, if I ignore for the purpose of this article the climate surrounding the global energy markets, then the most dominant forces, which can either accelerate the…
Treasures of the Eastern Med
There is a huge potential for hydrocarbons in the Eastern Mediterranean region, both in terms of supply and of transport of gas. The US Geological Survey estimated back in 2010 that 122 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of Natural Gas and 1.68 bbl of oil are located in the Levant Basin Province and 223 tcf and…
Think before you speak
By now, an experienced politician like Mustafa Akinci should know the impact that provocative statements can have on Cyprus’ reunification process. As such, the Turkish Cypriot leader’s recent comment on gas – and namely that the Republic’s mismanagement could be a casus belli –can only be perceived as provocative. Even if it wasn’t, it was…
Egypt gas offers powerful economic incentives for Cypriot reunification
n August 30, the Italian state-controlled energy company Eni announced the discovery of a “supergiant” gas field off the coast of Egypt. According to initial assessments, the Zohr field contains 30 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of natural gas (equivalent to 5.5 billion barrels of oil), making it the largest ever discovery of gas in the…
Troodos planning and gas problems
Tanned and relaxed from his family holidays in the exotic Seychelles, Nicos Anastasiades comes back to Cyprus today to face a politically challenging autumn. He’s expected to go straight to the Presidential retreat in Troodos, where he will be planning with aides his next moves from August 24 onwards. I hear that one of his…
Anastasiades sees progress in Cyprus talks #Reuters
Negotiations to settle Cyprus’s division are starting to show some progress, Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades said on Thursday, an unusually upbeat assessment on prospects of ending one of Europe’s most enduring conflicts. Anastasiades, who represents the Greek Cypriot community in reunification talks with Turkish Cypriots, told Reuters in an interview that some “convergences” had started…
[email protected]:Cyprus open to Turkey if there is solution
Energy Minister Giorgos Lakkotrypis says natural gas could go to Europe through Turkey, but only if expert studies concur and there is a solution to the Cyprus problem. The minister spoke to Turkish newspaper Milliet, where he highlighted the huge potential role that Cyprus could play in the Eastern Mediterranean if problems in the region…
Peace talks prospect in Erdogan’s hands
The United Nations as well as officials of both the British and the United States government are upbeat that talks on the Cyprus problem will resume despite concerns that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will send another search vessel into Cyprus’ waters. President Nicos Anastasiades has walked out on talks with the Turkish Cypriot community…