One week after initiating discussions with a delegation from Chevron, the Cypriot Republic's negotiating team remains at an impasse. Their primary concern centers around the development and production plan of the "Aphrodite" gas field as proposed by the American company. They believe it does not guarantee mutual benefits to both parties.

Cypriot experts discovered that the removal of certain infrastructures on the site, particularly the FPU platform and the reduction in the number of drillings, would significantly reduce the net quantity of natural gas sent to Shell's terminal in Egypt. Consequently, this would impact its commercial management, making the endeavor quite challenging.

Efforts to find common ground continue. All potential facets of the gas field's development have undergone detailed analysis. However, as noted by the Minister of Energy, Giorgos Papanastasiou, it's not an easy undertaking. The aim to keep the "Aphrodite" development agreement alive, in partnership with Chevron, Shell, and New Med Energy, is still under negotiation.

According to Brief's sources, the discussions are entering a critical phase, either today or tomorrow. These discussions will address the costs that the Cypriot Republic will bear based on the development facets of the gas field. The figures have changed following the consortium's unilateral decision last May to alter the originally agreed-upon 2019 plan.

It's worth noting that Chevron's team of experts in Cyprus has reduced in number. Some have departed as discussions related to their specialized areas concluded. The government has chosen not to release further details to the public due to potential risks surrounding the Cypriot Exclusive Economic Zone.

The next step for natural gas involves the arrival in Cyprus of a floating liquefied natural gas unit. Following the second open-sea test on the ship "Prometheus ETYFA", and the modifications undertaken, the final corrective actions by the Chinese manufacturers are expected to conclude by the end of this month or early November.

Meanwhile, in Abu Dhabi, Energy Minister Giorgos Papanastasiou met with John Ardill, the vice-president of ExxonMobil. Sharing an update on platform X, he mentioned that their discussion revolved around ExxonMobil's collaboration plans with Qatarenergy. They specifically talked about the progression of the gas discovery at the Glaucos field within the Cypriot EEZ's block 10. They also explored potential partnerships with nearby companies and touched upon the planned exploratory drilling in block 5, which is slated to continue until the close of 2024.