Nicosia is doing everything necessary to ensure that US energy giant, ExxonMobil’s planned search for oil and gas off Cyprus runs smoothly despite Turkish threats, said Energy Minister George Lakkotrypis on Sunday.
He said developments in UN-backed Cyprus talks should not affect the government’s energy programme in its exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
ExxonMobil, with Qatar Petroleum, has an exploration license for block 10, will conduct two exploratory drills in the last three months of the year, Lakkotrypis told reporters.
“The procedures for Exxon to obtain the necessary permits are proceeding as planned and two wells will be carried out in Q4,” Lakkotrypis did not elaborate on what those permits were.
“What’s important is that we progress according to our timeframe and planning,” he added.
An Exxon’s drillship is expected to arrive in September.
Asked about reports in daily Phileleftheros that US planes will discretely monitor the drilling activity, Lakkotrypis said: “We take all necessary measures so that the two drills will proceed without any unforeseen developments.”
He added: “That is why you see that we are diplomatically more active as the time for these drills gets closer.
In February, Turkish warships blocked a drillship commissioned by Italian energy company ENI, from drilling in block 3 of Cyprus` EEZ.
Ankara has consistently warned foreign companies against drilling offshore Cyprus while the island’s division is unsolved.
Lakkotrypis said these two issues should not be linked.
“We continue with our plans, that cannot be changed because of contractual obligations and, as the President of the Republic said a few days ago, under no circumstances should developments in the Cyprus problem affect our energy programme.”
A UN envoy is expected on the island on Monday to see if the ground is ripe to launch a new round of peace talks after the previous effort collapsed in acrimony at a Swiss summit in July 2017.
So far Cyprus has carried out three licensing rounds, awarding exploration licences for eight of its offshore blocks and Lakkotrypis didn’t rule another one in the future.
Turkey, which occupies 37% of the island’s territory, does not recognise the Republic of Cyprus’ EEZ and claims that the island’s resources also belong to the Turkish Cypriots.
The Cyprus government agrees that energy wealth will be shared between all Cypriots once a solution is reached but the island’s division should impede its sovereign right to search for oil and gas.
