A final decision on sending Cypriot natural gas to Egypt from the Cronos reservoir will be made this year, with the first exports expected in 2027, Cypriot and Egyptian ministers said on Friday during bilateral talks in Nicosia.
Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawi were in the capital for discussions with their Cypriot counterparts on a range of issues, with energy high up on the agenda.
Welcoming the two Egyptian ministers at the Presidential Palace, President Nikos Christodoulides said Egypt “is the most important country in the region” for Cyprus, noting he considered their relationship a “strategic” one. He extended an invite to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to an informal meeting of the EU with leaders of the region in Cyprus in April 2026, during Cyprus’ term at the helm of the EU’s rotational Presidency.
Energy cornerstone of bilateral relations
The Egyptian foreign minister highlighted the common values but also common interests between the two countries, particularly in energy and natural gas. He described Cyprus as “one of the most important countries for us, especially when it comes to the Eastern Mediterranean”.
Abdelatty noted that energy cooperation between Egypt and Cyprus was the “cornerstone of our partnership”.
He further noted that Egypt’s relationship with any other country in the region would “never, under any circumstances” be at the expense of its strategic relationship with Cyprus and Greece.
For his part, Petroleum Minister Badawi said Egypt was ready to accelerate the process to enable the transfer of natural gas from offshore Cyprus’ Cronos reservoir to Egyptian liquefaction facilities and on to Europe within 2027.
He said all involved parties are collectively committed to delivering the first Cypriot gas via Egyptian export terminals to European markets by 2027.
Badawi stressed the strategic nature of the project, which will elevate Cyprus as a significant natural gas exporter to Europe.
Cypriot Energy Minister Giorgos Papanastasiou echoed the aim to see first production of natural gas in 2027, noting that a final investment decision on the development of the Cronos field, involving Egypt and the Eni–TotalEnergies consortium is expected by the end of 2025.
Eni discovered the Cronos field in block 6 of Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone in 2022, with 3.1 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of gas found in place.
Utilizing Egyptian infrastructure to export Cypriot gas
Papanastasiou said his Egyptian counterpart had briefed them on the progress and technical-commercial agreements expected to be signed in the coming days between Egypt and Eni–Total for the development of Cronos.
“These agreements encompass the full supply chain, from the liquefaction of natural gas at Egypt’s Damietta terminal to international exports,” he said.
“The policy directions are clear, and we are moving in coordination with the involved companies with the aim of securing a Final Investment Decision by the end of 2025 and achieving first gas production in 2027,” he added.
Papanastasiou highlighted the project’s strategic importance, as it will create an Eastern Mediterranean energy corridor, while enhancing energy security in the region and within the European Union.
On the prospect of further collaboration on energy, the Egyptian petroleum minister said while discussions had focused on the Cronos field, talks were also taking place on developing the Aphrodite field, with an estimated 3.5tcf of gas, via Egyptian facilities, with substantial progress reported.
Papanastasiou added that this partnership benefits from Cyprus’s gas discoveries and Egypt’s existing infrastructure.
“In Cyprus’ EEZ, we have significant gas findings spread across the zone. Investors aim to maximize returns with minimal additional investment, so the synergy lies in leveraging Egypt’s ready infrastructure, particularly at the Zohr field,” he said.
Challenges moving forward
While there has been much talk on exporting Cypriot gas to Europe via LNG facilities in Egypt, it remains to be seen whether Cyprus can finally get its gas to market by 2027, and if so, which market.
Egypt has a growing domestic gas deficit. If this continues, and if Israel decides to hold back on its exports to the Egyptian market – a possibility raised by energy publication MEES on Friday – then the Egyptian government will come under increasing pressure to justify potential blackouts or expensive LNG imports while simultaneously exporting Cyprus’ gas as LNG to Europe.
No to Gazans’ displacement and settlement expansion
During the joint press conference between the two foreign ministers, Cypriot minister Constantinos Kombos and minister Abdelatty called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, for the return of all hostages and for the need to scale-up the humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza.
The two ministers also condemned Israel's attempts to displace Gazans and expand settlements.
Kombos said Cyprus rejects in the most absolute terms any displacement of Palestinians in Gaza and has also condemned the unacceptable attempt to expand settlements, including in the E1 area.
For his part, Abdelatty said that what's happening on the ground in Gaza is far beyond the imagination.
“There is genocide in motion there, mass killings of civilians, and artificial starvation committed by the Israelis,” he said, noting that there are currently 6,000 trucks loaded with humanitarian and medical aid that stand ready to enter Gaza.
Regarding the number of aid trucks that Israel allows to enter Gaza via the Rafa crossing, Abdelatty said: "We need minimum 700 trucks per day, and we are (at) around between 150 to 170 every day.”
On thoughts of displacement of Gazans from the area, the Egyptian minister said: “We will not allow it to happen, because displacement means liquidation and the end of the Palestinian cause, and there is no legal or moral or ethical ground to remove people from their own land.”