![\"ExxonMobil](\"https:\/\/www.ekathimerini.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/3211efe565771879b46eb740f6d6e653_ExxonMobil_32036169-1-320x200.jpg?v=1708381591\")
ExxonMobil and Qatar Energy on Friday began exploratory drilling for natural gas in a prospect west of Cyprus, Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides said on X.<\/p>\n
The east Mediterranean has yielded some major gas discoveries in recent years, and a disruption in energy supplies from Russia after its 2022 invasion of Ukraine has sharpened Europe\u2019s attention on securing alternative sources of supply.<\/p>\n
\u201cCyprus progresses exploration activities, aiming to be an alternative and reliable source of natural gas for the EU,\u201d Christodoulides wrote in his post.<\/p>\n
He said drilling at the prospect, named Electra, got underway on Friday morning.<\/p>\n
ExxonMobil executives have previously described Electra as \u2018highly promising\u2019.<\/p>\n
The company secured hydrocarbon exploration licenses for Cyprus in 2017. Other multinationals in the region include US\u2019s Chevron, Italy\u2019s Eni and France\u2019s TotalEnergies.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cyprus has made modest finds offshore compared to sizeable discoveries by neighbors Egypt and Israel. It has not yet put any gas into production.<\/p>\n
The Mediterranean island nation is divided with the internationally-recognized government in the south and a breakaway Turkey-backed administration in the north.<\/p>\n
Cyprus\u2019s drilling activities by are being closely monitored by Ankara, a Turkish defense ministry official said. The area being drilled lies outside continental shelf boundaries declared by Turkey, they added.<\/p>\n
Cyprus and Turkey do not have diplomatic relations, and past exploration efforts have exposed disputes and overlapping claims. [Reuters]<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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