Israel experts due in Cyprus

ISRAELI technocrats are due on the island soon to discuss ways for Cyprus to operate as a transit point between the neighbouring country’s Leviathan natural gas site and Europe, Commerce Minister Antonis Paschalides has announced.

The technocrats, members of the working group that was appointed during President Demetris Christofias’ visit to Israel, are expected to arrive in Cyprus in the coming days.

“Israeli technocrats are coming to Cyprus for consultations on various scenarios, related to the existence of natural gas reserves in the area,” said Paschalides, who yesterday met with spokesmen for the Electricity Authority of Cyprus and Energy Regulatory Authority to discuss their role and duties in the matter.

“In the framework of the decisions that were made between the two countries, a delegation from Israel will visit Cyprus with the aim of examining all the scenarios,” he added.

Among the scenarios expected to be discussed is the arrival of natural gas through special pipes, said Paschalides. “An intensive discussion will begin between the two countries’ technocrats until conclusions have been reached,” he added.

No official date has been announced for the visit yet, but Foreign Minister Markos Kyprianou yesterday confirmed the working groups had been appointed to examine all aspects and prospects of extracting natural gas from the Cypriot and Israeli seas.

“The aim now is to move on from the stage of guessing and wishing, to the stage of implementing specific efforts,” Kyprianou told the CyBC. “The Foreign Ministry is coordinating the whole effort between Cyprus and Israel.”

To start off the whole effort, the minister said the government was waiting for the drills by US company Noble Energy that will confirm there are in fact natural gas reserves in the area. These drills are expected to start towards the end of this year.

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