Group of experts continues meetings in Cyprus on natural gas issue

In statements on the sidelines of a meeting at the Presidential Palace, Antoniadou said that they continued meetings with the group of experts, which advises President of the Republic Demetris Christofias and the government on the natural gas issue, in particular in the field of energy.

She noted that the group of experts, which is in Cyprus since the beginning of this week, had a series of meetings with the competent ministerial committee, Noble Energy and the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism. She said that tomorrow the experts will have a meeting with the working group which has been created at the Ministry of Commerce for the issue of hydrocarbons.

Antoniadou also said that Cyprus has also sent the announcement about the beginning of the second licensing round at the European Commission to be translated and be published in the EU gazette, adding that preparation of documents, which will be published to invite interest for participation in the 2nd round, will soon be completed.

The Minister noted that they are also discussing ways in which they will proceed with the exploitation of the oil reserves. Cyprus President Demetris Chistofias announced in December that exploratory drilling carried out by Huston-based Noble Energy in block 12 of the island's Exclusive Economic Zone revealed a gross mean average of 7 trillion cubic feet (TCF) of natural gas.