Egypt and Cyprus forge strategic partnership in natural gas development

In a significant step toward strengthening regional energy cooperation, His Excellency Karim Badawi, Egypt’s Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, met with Cypriot Minister of Energy George Papanastasiou in Nicosia to discuss advancing the development of Cyprus's key gas fields, Cronos and Aphrodite, as well as optimising their integration with Egypt’s robust gas infrastructure.

Minister Badawi explained that the cooperation between Egypt and Cyprus represents a successful model of regional partnership in the field of natural gas, as Egypt has a distinguished infrastructure that includes gas liquefaction stations and transportation networks capable of supporting regional energy needs.

Cyprus President to attend EGYPES 2025

His Excellency Nikos Christodoulides, President of the Republic of Cyprus, at the invitation of His Excellency Abdel Fattah El Sisi, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt will attend the Egypt Energy Show (EGYPES) in Cairo on 17 February for signing important gas agreements, another step in fostering collaboration and growth across the East Mediterranean.

A priority of the meeting was expediting the implementation of projects to facilitate gas transportation from Cyprus to Egypt. This would allow the gas to be liquefied and either exported or utilised domestically. Additionally, both parties discussed legal and technical preparations for the Cronos field’s development, which is slated to commence this year, as well as broader plans to establish an energy corridor linking the Eastern Mediterranean to Europe via Egypt.

The high-level talks build upon recent strides in bilateral relations, including a presidential summit held on January 8 in Cairo. Minister Badawi extended a formal invitation from Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides to attend the Egypt Petroleum and Energy Show (EGYPES 2025), scheduled for February 17-19 in Cairo. The event will serve as a landmark occasion for regional energy collaboration, with both presidents overseeing the signing of pivotal agreements, including the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the Aphrodite gas field. This MOU will solidify the partnership between Egypt and Cyprus, enabling the integration of Cypriot gas into Egypt’s infrastructure for liquefaction and export. Highlighting its importance, Badawi described EGYPES 2025 as a “historical milestone” that would strengthen bilateral relations and unlock the energy potential of the Eastern Mediterranean.

“This is really building on the fantastic collaboration and strategic partnership between Cyprus and Egypt,” Badawi remarked. He emphasised the importance of the upcoming visit, which will also include the signing of a host governmental agreement for the Cronos field. These agreements will provide the commercial and technical frameworks necessary for project execution and enable operators to finalise investment decisions.

The Cronos agreement is expected to unlock the field’s potential by enabling operators to finalise investment decisions. In parallel, discussions are advancing on the MOU for the Aphrodite field, further cementing the collaboration between the two nations. Badawi expressed his gratitude to Minister Papanastasiou, calling the partnership a “collaborative spirit leveraging really the infrastructure which exists in Egypt and the great potential that Cyprus holds in terms of natural reserves.”

This collaboration not only aims to boost the energy sectors of both nations but also aligns with broader regional and global energy objectives. Minister Badawi noted that this partnership will provide a pathway for Cypriot gas to reach European markets via Egypt.