Egyptian and Cypriot officials have intensified talks on arrangements for the joint allocation of a pipeline to Egypt at a regional center of the energy industry, a government source said Monday.
According to the official, the joint allocation would allow herbal fuel to be transported from the Aphrodite high-sea fuel box in Cyprus to liquefaction plants (which convert fuel into a liquid state) in Egypt for re-export to European countries and for use in markets.
Previous government statements said Egypt would begin receiving Cypriot fuel in 2022.
Despite primary disruptions in many progression projects due to the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), Egyptians and Cypriots remained confident in implementing the initiative on time.
The negative effect of the COVID-19 epidemic on national economies around the world will force many countries to act temporarily to compensate for losses, which will lead to increased demand for energy to stimulate trade growth, the source said.
Egypt and Cyprus signed an agreement on 19 September 2018 to identify a direct maritime pipeline.
During a virtual meeting, Egyptian Oil and Mineral Resources Minister Tariq Al-Mulla and Cypriot Energy Minister Natasa Pilides discussed cooperation between the two countries in the oil and herbal fuel box and ongoing collaboration within the framework of the EastMed Gas Forum regional platform.
Egypt has two herbal fuel liquefaction plants, one east of Alexandria in Idku, owned by Egyptian Liquefied Natural Gas, and the other in the port city of Damiette owned by the Fenosa Hispanic-Italian Union.