The East Med: Trouble in paradise
Overlapping claims of sovereignty in the waters off Cyprus—and conflicting premises and perceptions—add a note of uncertainty to the island’s gas development ambitions
Cyprus sees a bright energy future ahead, one where leading international oil companies (IOCs)—Eni, ExxonMobil, Total—are confident of finding more reserves of natural gas. Furthermore, a deal has been done at last that could eventually see Cypriot gas monetised for the first time. Noble Energy, Delek and Shell, partners in the Block 12 Aphrodite discovery (4.1tn ft3 of gas in place), have reached an agreement amending their production-sharing contract (PSC) with the Cypriot government. The deal, in the consortium's favour, brings the PSC into line with those signed with other IOCs operating off Cyprus. The agreement means an important step has been taken towards eventually transporting Aphr
Also in this section
6 February 2026
The long close relationship between key supplier Qatar and pivotal buyer Japan becomes even deeper following new landmark deal
6 February 2026
Partnerships across the LNG value chain have evolved over time, growing in both complexity and importance, according to panellists at LNG2026
6 February 2026
Nigeria's mega-refinery is still trying to solve many challenges, all while its owner talks up expansion
5 February 2026
While broadly supportive of EU efforts to tackle methane emissions, representatives of the gas industry warn it could deter supply contracting if timelines and compliance requirements are not made more pragmatic
