Cyprus is set to give a concession to a Total of France and Eni of Italy consortium to drill for natural gas in yet another block of its exclusive economic zone (EEZ), state-run Cyprus news Agency (CNA) reported.
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The news came as Turkey is preparing to drill in an area closed to the west coast which is claimed by Cyprus, starting a flurry of international diplomacy to defuse a potential crisis.
On May 6, Turkey said its ships would continue to explore for oil and gas in the sea that Cyprus considers part of its exclusive economic zone. The two countries have overlapping offshore claims in this region.
The Turkish drilling ship "Fatih", along with a second vessel, is expected to begin drilling wells soon, defying international arrest warrants issued for the crew of Faith by the Cypriot authorities, Turkish media reported.
CNA quoted unnamed Cypriot government sources as saying that the two companies may also cooperate in other blocks in the Cypriot exclusive economic zone.
Cypriot Foreign Minister Nicos Christodoulides told state television after returning from a visit to France, that news in relation to the energy program should be expected any day. In Paris, he had met with his French counterpart and a senior Total official.
The Ministry of Energy said in November, after inviting bids for drilling that it received a single application from joint venture Total E&P Cyprus B.V. / Eni Cyprus Limited, for a licence to carry out exploration for hydrocarbons in block 7 of Cyprus's EEZ.
The consortium is already licenced to explore in blocks 6 and 11, off the southwestern shores of Cyprus, while ENI also has concessions, alone or in association with South Korean KOGAS to drill in blocks 8, 9, 2 and 3, off the southeastern Cypriot coast.
Christodoulides, asked to comment on the discussion on the presence of a Turkish drillship in a part of the Cypriot exclusive economic zone at a European Union Council meeting in Sibiu, Romania, on Thursday, said the EU bloc stands behind Cyprus in full solidarity in its dispute with Turkey.
He said President Anastasiades explained the facts to his EU colleagues and asked for practical measures against Turkey.
Anastasiades himself said he was fully satisfied with the response of EU countries, but warned against expecting such measures soon.
"Currently, time must be given to diplomacy to act," Anastasiades said.
Despite warnings by the European Union to pull out of the Cypriot EEZ, Turkish officials seemed to be undisturbed and said a second drill ship will be sent in the eastern Mediterranean soon. ■