A framework agreement between Cyprus and Egypt for the development of natural gas discoveries in Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone, including the “Cronos” and “Aphrodite” fields, is expected to be signed today during the visit of a Cypriot delegation to Cairo led by President Nikos Christodoulides.
The agreement will be signed on the sidelines of the international energy exhibition Egypt Energy Show (EGYPES) 2026. EGYPES is a leading regional energy exhibition and conference taking place from Monday, 30 March, until Wednesday, 1 April.
The agreement is expected to be signed in the presence of President Christodoulides and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and is considered an important step in strengthening energy cooperation between the two countries, as it brings Cypriot gas fields closer to the production stage. On behalf of the Republic of Cyprus, the agreement will be signed by Energy Minister Michalis Damianos together with his Egyptian counterpart Karim Badawi.
The programme of meetings includes a meeting between the President of the Republic and the Energy Minister with the Chief Executive Officer of TotalEnergies, Patrick Pouyanné. The Energy Minister will also hold separate bilateral meetings with the Secretary-General of the East Mediterranean Gas Forum, Osama Mobarez, as well as with senior executives of BP, Arcius and ExxonMobil.
The framework agreement concerns the development of natural gas discoveries within Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone, including the “Cronos” and “Aphrodite” fields, and aims to establish the necessary framework for transporting and commercially exploiting gas quantities through existing and new infrastructure in Egypt.
The development is part of a broader strategy to accelerate the utilisation of Cyprus’ gas reserves, with Egypt playing the role of a key energy partner due to its existing liquefied natural gas infrastructure.
As previously reported by Politis, announcements from Eni regarding progress in the development of the “Cronos” field are also expected. Current plans foresee the start of extraction in 2027, using existing Eni infrastructure in Egypt for processing and exporting the gas.
The anticipated announcement from Eni is being closely watched by both Cyprus and Egypt. Cyprus would become a natural gas exporter, although the financial benefits are expected to be modest, at a time when Europe is seeking alternatives to Russian gas and Egypt aims to strengthen its position as an energy hub in the Eastern Mediterranean by utilising its infrastructure, including LNG terminals and future electricity interconnections.