Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades said Monday that the U.S.-based energy company Chevron, which purchased the rights of Noble Energy in Cyprus' first natural gas field, remains committed to proceeding with its exploitation.
Anastasiades held a joint video conference with Chevron CEO Michael Wirth and Noble Energy CEO David Stover.
"The companies reaffirmed their commitment for the development of the Aphrodite natural gas deposits without further delay," Anastasiades said in his Twitter account.
Cypriot government spokesman Kyriakos Koushos said in a written statement that the companies "reaffirmed during the teleconference the importance that they attribute to the development of Aphrodite gas field, in the framework of their energy plans in the Eastern Mediterranean."
The Aphrodite gas field is estimated to contain 4.5 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.
"They assured of their intention to proceed the soonest possible with their plans on how to exploit the gas field despite the relevant delay due to the coronavirus pandemic," the spokesman added.
Italian ENI and French Total companies have discovered a similar field, and ExxonMobil in association with Qatar Petroleum have also struck gas off the southwest shores of Cyprus.
Several exploratory dills planned for this year and early 2021 have been adjourned because of the coronavirus crisis.
Editor:Cherie
