THE ENI-TOTAL CONSORTIUM STARTS A GAS EXPLORATION PROJECT OFFSHORE CYPRUS
NICOSIA (Reuters) – Italy’s Eni and France’s TotalEnergies began drilling a gas exploration well off Cyprus on Monday, the island’s energy ministry said.
Eni Cyprus and TotalEnergies EP Cyprus BV, the local units of the two energy giants, are collaborating on the project. Eni is the operator of the offshore area known as Block 6, with a 50% stake, while Total holds the remaining 50%.
In February 2018, the groups discovered a gas deposit near the Calypso well, another zone in the same block.
The exploration program in Cyprus waters has come up against strong opposition from Turkey. The island was divided after the Turkish invasion in 1974, and since then jurisdictional claims have continued.
(Report Michele Kambas; French version Federica Mileo)