Cyprus to Deliver Natural Gas to Europe by Mid-2028

WHO:

ABC News - Michael Damianos, Cyprus' energy minister

ABC News - TotalEnergies of France and Italy's Eni, partners in the Cronos natural gas field development

AP News - ExxonMobil and partner QatarEnergy, licensed to develop the Glaucus and Pegasus fields

AP News - Chevron, leading a joint venture for the development of the Aphrodite field

AP News - Meridiam, a French investment company backing the Great Seas Interconnector project

WHAT:

ABC News - Cyprus will supply natural gas to Europe from the Cronos natural gas field by March 2028

ABC News - The Cronos project will be the first time gas from east Mediterranean deposits is supplied to European markets

ABC News - The pipeline from Cronos to Egypt's Zohr natural gas deposit will cost approximately $2 billion (1.73 billion euros)

ABC News - The Cronos field contains more than 3 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of gas, with a clause allowing about a fifth for Egypt's domestic needs

AP News - The Aphrodite field holds an estimated 5.6 tcf of gas

AP News - A final decision on the Aphrodite field's development is expected in the summer of 2027

AP News - The EU has committed $760 million (658 million euros) for the Great Seas Interconnector project

WHERE:

ABC News - The Cronos natural gas field is located off Cyprus’ southern coast

ABC News - The pipeline will connect to Egypt’s Zohr natural gas deposit, located 105 kilometers (65 miles) away

AP News - The Damietta processing facility is located on Egypt’s northern shore

AP News - The Great Seas Interconnector project aims to connect Cyprus and Israel to Europe’s power grid

WHEN:

ABC News - Work on the pipeline from Cronos to Egypt will begin later this year and take up to 18 months to complete

AP News - Gas from the Glaucus and Pegasus fields is expected to start flowing by 2033

AP News - An arbitrator is expected to decide the percentage of the Aphrodite field entitled to Israel by next month

AP News - A final decision on the Aphrodite field's development is expected in the summer of 2027

WHY:

ABC News - The need for alternative energy sources in Europe is driven by Russia’s war in Ukraine and upheaval in the Middle East

ABC News - The importance of the Cronos project is not just financial but also marks Cyprus's commencement as a gas producer

HOW:

ABC News - Gas from Cronos will be piped to Egypt for processing at the Damietta facility before being liquefied and shipped to Europe

ABC News - The Cronos project was chosen for its economic viability due to its proximity to existing infrastructure

(UPDATED August 9, 2026 13:20 UTC)

Cyprus is set to supply natural gas to Europe from the Cronos natural gas field by March 2028, marking the first time gas from east Mediterranean deposits will reach European markets. The pipeline connecting Cronos to Egypt's Zohr natural gas deposit will cost around $2 billion and is expected to begin construction later this year, taking up to 18 months to complete. Meanwhile, the EU has committed $760 million to the Great Seas Interconnector project, which aims to link Cyprus and Israel to Europe's power grid, highlighting the growing need for alternative energy sources amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.