The Greek side will look to Cyprus in the near future, as major energy giants from the US and France are preparing to conduct research in the Exclusive Economic Zone of Megalonisos. Ankara has already threatened consequences and retaliation and the whole region is expected to be in the red by January.
The cube was thrown by the American-Qatari consortium on plot 10. The Cypriot authorities have already proceeded with the issue of NAVTEX, with which they commit the area until January 22 for the confirmation drilling of ExxonMobil and Qatar Petroleum.
On this plot is the “Glafkos” deposit, one of the largest in the Eastern Mediterranean. In fact, the estimates from the research drilling made by the Americans in 2019, speak for 5 to 8 trillion. cubic meters of natural gas.
After the Americans, the baton is taken by the French Total, which in the first months of the new year will start the confirmation drilling on plot 6. The interest of Paris is focused on the “Calypso” deposit, while for the protection of the TOTAL drilling rig, France maintains a powerful FREMM class frigate in the port of Larnaca.
Meanwhile, Ankara insists on provocative rhetoric with Erdogan and his ministers threatening retaliation against Nicosia and a barrage of drilling in the Cypriot EEZ.
“Reactions can range from aggressive statements, from a research vessel going to investigate the area to a drilling rig. In other words, it equates an illegal act with a legal action, in a legally demarcated area “, notes the Deputy Minister of Education and internationalist, Angelos Syrigos.
The Greek Armed Forces are regularly trained in subjects such as the recapture of a floating drilling rig and the protection of an mining platform, while similar scenarios were executed during the inter-branch Medusa exercise that ended yesterday with the participation of Greece, Cyprus, Egypt and the United Nations.
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