President of the Republic Nicos Anastasiades said that "his country could supply the EU with gas sooner, if Brussels supported the construction of the appropriate infrastructure", according to an article on the website of the Sunday German newspaper Welt, entitled "There could be a flow of gas from the Mediterranean faster".
As the Cypriot President said in an interview with Welt am Sonntag during his recent visit to Berlin, "the EU has already signed an agreement of intent with Israel and Egypt, in which it wants to support the transport of gas from these countries, but also from all gas sources, including Cyprus. Thus, there could be a mechanism that would encourage entrepreneurs to build the relevant infrastructure more quickly."
Welt notes that the export of natural gas from areas off the Cypriot coast is still in the preparatory stage. Several international companies, including Chevron, Shell, Eni, Total and Qatar Oil, are taking part.
So far it is estimated that the export of natural gas will begin in 2027. Only the Aphrodite plot, one of three areas located in Cypriot waters, can produce between 5 and 10 billion cubic metres of gas per year, it added.
It is reported that since the war broke out in Ukraine, the EU has been trying to wean itself off Russian gas and find new, non-problematic suppliers.
"Today, the aggressive behaviour of Turkey in the Cypriot EEZ is the main obstacle to start gas production," Nicos Anastasiades says.
He continues, saying that "Turkey does not recognize the Republic of Cyprus, violates the international maritime law and engages in illegal drilling in front of our coasts".
During his visit to Berlin this week, President Anastasiades called for the help of Germany and the EU in finding a solution to the Cyprus problem, the newspaper Welt noted.
Source: KYPE
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