Discovery of new raw materials – Cyprus: Gas field discovered, but there is a problem

The Italian-French energy consortium Eni-Total made the discovery during research that lasted more than a year. The size of the natural gas field is not yet known.

Will Cyprus replace Russia?
It is now the fourth natural gas field discovered under the seabed in Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). These discoveries could give Europe the opportunity to become further independent of Russian gas supplies. The American company Noble Energy and the Italian Eni had already discovered three other large natural gas fields south of the third largest island in the Mediterranean during drilling in 2011 and 2022.

However, no natural gas has been extracted so far, because there has been a dispute with Turkey for years about the exploitation of the raw material. Since 1974, Cyprus has been divided into a Greek Cypriot part in the south and a Turkish Cypriot part in the north of the island. As long as there is no solution to the Cyprus issue, Turkey will block the exploitation of natural gas fields and exploration for further gas supplies.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 after a Greek coup and Turkish military intervention. The buffer zone between the two parts of the island is monitored by United Nations peacekeepers. The Republic of Cyprus has been a member of the EU since 2004. Until a solution is found, EU law and regulations only apply in the southern part of the island republic.