Egypt, Greece, Cyprus probe energy cooperation

Petroleum Minister Tarek el Molla discussed with Cypriot and Greek ministers of energy aspects of regional cooperation in the exploration of the Mediterranean natural gas as well as developments taking place in the region.

During separate meetings with his Cypriot and Greek counterparts, Yiorgos Lakkotrypis and Kostas Hatzidakis, Molla reviewed means of boosting ties among the three neighboring countries in the natural gas and petroleum fields.

Molla and Lakkotrypis discussed, on the sidelines of the third ministerial meeting of the Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum, mutual efforts meant to propel cooperation in the exploration of Mediterranean gas, according to a statement issued by the Petroleum Ministry on Thursday.

Progress realized in the development of the Mediterranean gas filed of Aphrodite, in light of the latest agreements signed by the Cypriot government with the exploration companies in this regard, was discussed by Molla and Lakkotrypis.

They also took up the mechanism of activating the joint government agreement on extending pipelines in order to transmit the Cypriot gas to Egypt’s EDCO plant.

Meanwhile, Molla and his Greek counterpart Hatzidakis tackled means of boosting joint cooperation as well as luring the Greek companies to pump investments in Egypt’s exploration activities.