Athens:Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawi met with Greek Minister of Environment and Energy Stavros Papastavrou and Cypriot Minister of Energy Michael Damianos to explore ways to expedite the development of natural gas resources in the Eastern Mediterranean. The discussions aimed at connecting these resources to both infrastructure and European markets.

According to State Information Service Egypt, the trilateral meeting took place alongside a high-level roundtable of the East Mediterranean Gas Forum (EMGF). The focus was on advancing energy cooperation among Egypt, Cyprus, and Greece through their trilateral mechanism.

Badawi emphasized the complementary strengths of the three countries. Cyprus offers promising gas resources, Egypt has advanced infrastructure for gas transportation and liquefaction, and Greece's strategic location provides access to Southern and Central Europe. The ministers discussed turning these strengths into viable projects that would enhance energy security and economic value from the region's resources.

The meeting reviewed plans for Cypriot gas projects, such as Kronos and Aphrodite, utilizing Egypt's infrastructure for processing and re-exporting gas. This collaboration aims to maximize economic returns and speed up resource development. Discussions also covered regional gas infrastructure integration and potential expansions to meet growing demand.

Greece's geographic position and networks, including the Vertical Corridor, were highlighted as crucial for establishing efficient routes for Eastern Mediterranean gas to reach European markets, thereby diversifying supply sources and integrating energy markets.

The ministers underscored the importance of moving from planning to implementing projects by addressing technical, commercial, and regulatory challenges. They emphasized creating a stable investment environment with clear regulatory frameworks and streamlined procedures to build investor confidence.

The East Mediterranean Gas Forum was recognized as a key platform for regional coordination, facilitating cooperation among member states and energy companies. The ministers stressed the need to continue leveraging this platform for priority projects, linking resources with infrastructure and markets.

Badawi noted that cooperation among Egypt, Cyprus, and Greece is progressing from position coordination to developing integrated projects. These efforts aim to accelerate project implementation and enhance the economic value of the region's resources while supporting energy security and strengthening the Eastern Mediterranean's role in supplying energy to Europe.