South of the third largest Mediterranean island of Cyprus rich natural gas deposits have been discovered. This was announced today by the Cypriot Energy Minister Giorgos Lakkotrypis and a representative of the American group ExxonMobile in the Cypriot capital Nicosia.
„It’s the biggest find in the world in the last three years,“ said Cypriot Energy Minister on Cyprus Television (RIK). Occurrences of up to 227 billion cubic meters are suspected. The group will continue the exploration in the sea area south of Cyprus, it said.
Tensions between Cyprus and Turkey
The natural gas reserves off the coast south of Cyprus create tensions between Ankara and Nicosia. Ankara does not recognize Cyprus and rejects the search for natural gas for a solution to the Cyprus question without the consent of the Turkish Cypriots.
The internationally recognized government of the Republic of Cyprus rejects these claims. According to the government in Nicosia, it is the right of every sovereign state to carry out such investigations.
As early as 2011 natural gas deposits south of the island republic had been discovered. French and Italian energy companies are also looking for natural gas. However, Cyprus still lacks the necessary infrastructure to boost its reserves.
