Cyprus natural gas to supply Europe by first half of 2028, minister says, as EU seeks new sources

NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — European consumers can expect natural gas from an undersea deposit off Cyprus to help meet their energy needs as early as March 2028, the island nation's energy minister said.

Michael Damianos said the East Mediterranean is fast becoming an alternative energy source for European nations as Russia’s war in Ukraine and upheaval in the Middle East compel the continent to seek out new sources.

Damianos said partners TotalEnergies of France and Italy's Eni made a final decision last month to proceed with developing the Cronos natural gas field off Cyprus’ southern coast. The project will be the first time gas from east Mediterranean deposits is supplied to European markets.

“It’s important for Europe at this time because of the war in Ukraine, because of this situation in the Middle East, that Cyprus is going to be an alternative source of gas,” Damianos told The Associated Press in an exclusive interview Friday.

According to the Eni-TotalEnergies consortium timetable, work on a pipeline from Cronos to existing infrastructure at Egypt’s massive Zohr natural gas deposit 105 kilometers (65 miles) away will begin later this year and take up to 18 months to complete.

Once that’s done, the gas will be conveyed to the Damietta processing facility on Egypt’s northern shore where it will be liquefied for transport by ship to Europe.

Piping Cronos gas to Egypt for processing was the most economically viable option, costing roughly $2 billion (1.73 billion euros) or half the estimated cost of developing other gas fields inside Cypriot waters because of its proximity to existing infrastructure.

Although the agreement is for all of the more than 3 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of gas in Cronos to go to Europe, there’s a clause in the deal so that about a fifth of that amount could be used to cover some of Egypt’s domestic energy needs.

“It’s a small reserve,” said Damianos. “Our income as a country is not going to be huge, so its importance is not the money, its importance the commencement of being a producer and having first gas.”

Cronos is one of six natural gas deposits discovered so far inside Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone off its southern coastline. Two of those, Glaucus and Pegasus, jointly hold an estimated 6.9 tcf. ExxonMobil and partner QatarEnergy, which were licensed to develop those fields, say they expect gas from Glaucus and Pegasus to start flowing by 2033.

“What we can say that Exxon is the type of company that sticks by the timelines and sometimes delivers even earlier,” Damianos said.

The energy minister said ExxonMobil plans to expand its exploration activities off Cyprus and is expected to receive an additional license to search for hydrocarbons.

Another gas field — the first to be found off Cyprus some 15 years ago — is Aphrodite, which holds an estimated 5.6 tcf. Damianos said a final decision by a Chevron-led joint venture to develop the field is expected in the summer of 2027. A pipeline will link the deposit directly to Egyptian facilities to supply the country’s domestic energy needs according to an agreement with Chevron.

Part of the Aphrodite field lies in Israeli waters and it’s hoped an arbitrator will decide the percentage Israel is entitled to by next month.

Damianos also hailed the entry of French investment company Meridiam as a backer to the Great Seas Interconnector project, an electricity cable that will connect Europe’s power grid with that of Cyprus and eventually Israel.

The ambitious project would not only end Cyprus and Israel’s energy isolation, but it would be an important building block for the IMEC initiative — a new energy and trade route to the Gulf and India that the European Union is pursuing.

But the project is now tied up in red tape over its real cost above an earlier estimate of $2.2 billion. A European Investment Bank report that’s due in the next few months will offer clarity over its cost.

That’s important for Cyprus because under an existing agreement, Cypriot energy consumers would have to put up as much as 63% of the cable’s construction cost, meaning a significant jump in electricity prices.

Additional private investment is being courted to offset that burden on Cypriot consumers while additional EU funding is being weighed, said Damianos.

The EU has already committed $760 million (658 million euros) for the project.

“It’s a very important project for Europe because it connects Cyprus which is isolated to the European grid. And the idea is to then proceed and connect to Israel,” Damianos said.

Cyprus' Energy Minister Michael Damianos talks during an interview with The Associated Press in Nicosia, Cyprus, on Aug. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)

Cyprus' Energy Minister Michael Damianos is interviewed by The Associated Press in Nicosia, Cyprus, on Aug. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)

Cyprus' Energy Minister Michael Damianos looks on during an interview with The Associated Press in Nicosia, Cyprus, on Aug. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)

Cyprus' Energy Minister Michael Damianos talks during an interview with The Associated Press in Nicosia, Cyprus, on Aug. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)

Natalie Jacobs scored late in stoppage time to give the visiting North Carolina Courage a 4-3 victory over the Washington Spirit on Saturday.

In other National Women's Soccer League games, the Kansas City Current played to a 1-1 draw with the Houston Dash, and the Denver Summit topped the Utah Royals 2-1.

North Carolina (9-6-3) went ahead just two minutes into the game, when midfielder Shinomi Koyama’s pinpoint delivery into the box hit Ashley Sanchez in stride for a left-footed volley.

Ally Schlegel fought off multiple defenders and played it to Evelyn Ijeh who calmly slotted it home to double North Carolina's lead in the ninth minute. It was initially ruled offside, with video review reversing the on-field call.

Sanchez’s sliding pass led to Ijeh for the long-range finish that made it 3-0 in the 15th.

Just minutes into the second half, Spirit forward Trinity Rodman’s right-footed curler cut the lead. North Carolina attempted to clear the ball in the 50th minute, but instead forward Sofia Cantore scored to get the home side within a goal.

Rebeca Bernal’s headed effort on goal was saved by Courage goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan, but Bernal followed up the rebound to tie it at 3.

In the 95th minute, Feli Rauch’s perfectly-weighted through ball found an unmarked Jacobs for the winning goal. North Carolina has won three straight games.

The Spirit (11-5-3) have dropped consecutive matches for the first time this season.

Kat Rader converted a penalty kick to pull the Dash into a draw with the Courage.

Off a fast break in the 44th minute, midfielder Croix Bethune laid it off to Debinha for the 1-0 lead.

Debinha’s 83rd career goal across all NWSL competitions. The goal vaulted Debinha into first place on the NWSL’s career scoring leaderboard. It was her 59th regular-season goal, tied for fifth on the league's list.

Houston defender Allysha Chapman drew a penalty in the 78th minute and Rader converted to pull the Dash (5-8-5) even at home.

Kansas City is 9-7-3.

Summit captain Janine Sonis scored the winning goal late in stoppage time and had an assist against the Royals.

In the 51st minute, Sonis’ cross reached Yazmeen Ryan, who took a touch and blasted it home for the 1-0 lead.

Utah defender Tatum Milazzo rocketed home the equalizer in the 89th minute off an attempted headed clearance from Denver.

Sonis scored the winner off a free kick at the top of the box in the 94th minute.

The Summit improved to 6-7-5, and Utah dropped to 10-6-3.

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FILE - Kansas City Current midfielder Debinha on the attack during an NWSL soccer match against Gotham FC, April 4, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann, File)