Newly appointed Cyprus Energy Minister Natasa Pilides made her first official contact with her counterparts from Egypt and Israel this week having succeeded Giorgos Lakkotrypis last month.

On 4 August Ms Pilides and her Egyptian counterpart Tarek El Molla discussed plans for a subsea pipeline from Cyprus’ 4.1tcf Aphrodite field to Egypt. Cyprus and Egypt have already signed and ratified an intergovernmental agreement in favor of said pipeline (MEES, 26 April 2019). However, it would be the partners at Aphrodite – Noble Energy (35%op), Shell (35%) and Israel’s Delek Drilling (30%) – who would have to agree to pay for such plans. (CONTINUED - 291 WORDS)