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French energy giant Total wants to expand its search for oil and gas off the coast of Cyprus island. despite Turkey`s warnings over exploration. a senior company official said yesterday.
After joining forces with Italy`s ENI in two areas off the Cypriot coast. Total`s regional director Stephane Michel said the firm wanted to expand its partnership.
`We applied as well to enter block eight owned by ENI and wanted to come to support that demand.` he told reporters following talks with Greek Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades. The country`s energy minister. George Lakkotrypis. said there had been `constructive discussions about the next steps` for Total to operate in the economic exclusive zone unilaterally declared by Greek Cyprus.
He welcomed Total`s commitment as `an extremely important development` which will strengthen the energy consortium. In February. a drill ship contracted by ENI to explore off the Mediterranean island abandoned its mission after Turkish warships blocked its path.
Monday`s talks in Nicosia follow a visit to the Greek Cypriot capital last month by ENI chief executive Claudio Descalzi. during which he reaffirmed the company`s `strong engagement and commitment toward the country.` After Turkey`s intervention against the Italian drilling vessel on Feb. 9. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan warned foreign energy companies not to `overstep the mark` in the Mediterranean.
The standoff over exploiting energy resources in the eastern Mediterranean has further complicated stalled efforts to reunify Cyprus island following the collapse of UN-brokered peace talks last year.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 into a predominantly Greek south. which is an EU member. and a Turkish north whose sovereignty is only recognized by Ankara. Greek Cypriot government is reportedly in discussion with Cairo to build a direct submarine natural gas pipeline from Cyprus to a plant in Egypt.
U.S. energy giant ExxonMobil – with Qatar Petroleum – is scheduled to conduct drilling off Cyprus in the second half of 2018
