Cairo:Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawi met with Cypriot Minister of Energy, Commerce and Industry Michael Damianos during the East Mediterranean Gas Forum to discuss the acceleration of gas infrastructure projects between the two nations. The discussions focused on utilizing Cypriot gas resources through Egypt's infrastructure, enhancing their strategic partnership.

According to State Information Service Egypt, the ministers emphasized Egypt's commitment to advancing cooperation with Cyprus, aiming to transform gas discoveries into productive projects. They highlighted the significance of the East Mediterranean Gas Forum as a platform for promoting investment and developing infrastructure to connect gas resources to markets.

The meeting included talks on Cyprus's Cronos gas field, with both sides agreeing on the importance of connecting its gas production to Egypt's infrastructure. They pledged to coordinate with project partners to ensure timely implementation, targeting gas production by 2028 following a final investment decision by the Eni-TotalEnergies consortium.

Discussions also covered the Aphrodite gas field, where both ministers prioritized completing necessary agreements for its development. They called for continued collaboration to finalize the commercial and regulatory frameworks for gas supply, aiming for a final investment decision and project launch.

Additionally, the ministers discussed Cypriot gas discoveries involving ExxonMobil and QatarEnergy, stressing the importance of implementing a memorandum of understanding to explore development options. They agreed on the need for joint committees to accelerate technical, commercial, and regulatory studies, transforming agreements into actionable projects to maximize gas benefits and integrate Eastern Mediterranean energy markets.