Cyprus natgas: DEFA, KRETYK future under review

All possibilities regarding the future of Natural Gas Public Company (DEFA) and the State Hydrocarbons Company (KRETYK) will be examined within the framework of the overall effort to modernize the state, said Energy, Commerce and Industry Minister Giorgos Lakotripis.
Answering questions on the future of the two companies, Lakotripis, said “together with President Anastasiades, we discussed various issues. We agreed that this issue will be discussed in the context of the overall effort to modernise the government, which the President announced earlier”.
Earlier Monday, the president presented a package of measures for the modernisation of the institutions and state, assuring the citizens of his determination and that his government will meet the expectations of the society for a new bold start.
The measures include the introduction of rules of good governance, combating corruption, collusion and established bad practices by promoting meritocracy, and reforming public administration, with the active involvement of the citizens and a a December 2013 deadline to implement the action plan.
Regarding the merging of DEFA-KRETYK, Lakotrypis said the Law Office of the Republic is preparing a study, together with Norwegian advisors on the overall institutional framework, the responsibilities of both organizations” and see how these are similar with those of the ministry so that they can fall into an “ecosystem”.
Regarding his imminent visit to Israel, accompanying President Anastasiades, Lakotripis said that he is in continued negotiations on the strategy they will follow and this should be finalised in the next couple of days.
Regarding plans for the construction of the land-based natural gas liquefaction plant terminal, the Energy Minister said the terminal is the “main centre of our energy strategy and we are continuing towards that direction”.