Energy Minister Michael Damianos highlighted the significance of US President Donald Trump reposting his Breitbart interview, calling it a strong endorsement of Cyprus's regional energy security and gas export strategy.

Cyprus’ Minister of Energy, Commerce and Industry, Michael Damianos on Thursday stressed the importance of US president Donald Trump’s repost of his interview about energy issues in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Damianos was replying to questions upon his arrival to the Electricity Authority of Cyprus headquarters for an event.

Strategic Regional Cooperation and US Endorsement

Asked by a journalist to comment on the fact that the US President had shared a link to an interview the Minister gave to Breitbart News, Damianos said, “it means a great deal because, within the framework of the 3+1 cooperation between Cyprus, Greece, Israel and the United States, we discussed the development of the hydrocarbon resources in our Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), electricity interconnections and energy security in the region”.

“We received assurances, not commitments, but assurances, I would say, just as we did today, to proceed with our own energy programme, which concerns not only the development of our resources but also energy security more broadly,” he added.

“Given that we share this understanding with our partners, as well as with Egypt - who is also a key partner in the region - and now have the endorsement of the United States, expressed by the highest possible authority, we must move forward with this energy programme. That is precisely the direction in which we are proceeding”, he also said.

Gas Exports to Egypt and Long-Term Revenues

Replying to an another question by a journalist, Damianos said that natural gas from the Aphrodite and Cronos fields would be exported to Egypt, as this is the proposal put forward by the companies developing both fields, making the projects economically viable.

He noted that the exact revenues to be received by the Republic of Cyprus would only become clear over time. “It depends on how much natural gas is available and how much we are able to produce. These are agreements spanning ten to fifteen years, so revenues will also depend on natural gas prices. However, we are talking about very significant revenues for the Republic of Cyprus,” he said.

On 22 July, US President Donald Trump reposted on his personal Truth Social account an exclusive interview given by Damianos to the American website Breitbart News. In that interview, the Minister described the personal involvement of the US President in Eastern Mediterranean energy affairs as “vital”.

Source: CNA(ΚΥΠΕ)