US Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources Francis Fannon was in Cyprus on Tuesday for a round of contacts with Cypriot officials, in a move the government described as a “political signal” to Turkey.
During his three-day visit Fannon will meet the foreign and energy ministers, Nicos Christodoulides and Yiorgos Lakkotrypis respectively to discuss the situation in Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
On Wednesday, Fannon will attend a meeting of the Cyprus, Greece, Israel and US Energy Planning Working Group established by a decision taken at the first-ever Energy Ministerial Conference involving the four countries, which took place last August in Athens. The group discussed preparedness and response to emergencies related to offshore oil and gas activities.
Lakkotrypis and Fannon will meet on the sidelines of Wednesday’s meeting, and he will meet Christodoulides on Thursday before leaving the island.
Government spokesman Kyriacos Kousios said later in the day Fannon’s visit was very important. “It is a confirmation of Cyprus’ upgraded relations with the US, a testament to the US interest in the energy developments of the region and his presence here I believe should be interpreted as giving some political signals,” he said.
Asked about Cyprus’ drilling plans, the spokesman said they were progressing. A scheduled drill by Cyprus in block 6 – licensed to ENI and Total – was recently delayed when the lead drillship Tungsten Explorer, operating in Egyptian waters, had been scheduled to drill at the Kronos site in block 6 in late January or early February.
But due to a technical glitch, the drillship had to temporarily suspend operations in the Egyptian EEZ, after which it had already been leased for exploratory drilling in Lebanon’s EEZ. By the time it is done in Lebanon, it could be late March or early April, reports last month said. The ENI-Total consortium is planning at least three drills in Cypriot waters in the 2020-2021 period.
Kousios said the rig had finished its work in Egypt and would go to Lebanon, after which it would come to Cyprus. “The drilling rig is expected to come to Cyprus at the end of March or early April,” the spokesman added.
Late last month Turkey issued a marine advisory by which it reserved for drilling operations an area inside Cyprus’ offshore block 8. The advisory stated the Turkish drillship Yavuz, supported by other vessels, would be carrying out drilling until May 24.
The reserved area is located at the southeast corner of block 8, which the north says falls within its own waters based on a ‘continental shelf delimitation agreement’ signed with Turkey in 2011.
It is the third time that Turkey will be conducting illegal drilling activities in Cyprus’ EEZ, but the second time it is drilling in acreage already licensed by the Cyprus government. It is the first time, however, that Turkey is drilling in an area claimed not by itself, but rather by the Turkish Cypriots.
