Egypt’s Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Karim Badawi, said the final decision announced on Tuesday by Italy’s Eni and France’s TotalEnergies to develop Cyprus’ Cronos gas field and connect it to Egypt’s infrastructure marks a major milestone in Egyptian-Cypriot energy cooperation.
Badawi said the decision underscores the confidence of leading global energy companies in Egypt’s gas infrastructure and validates the country’s strategy of leveraging its integrated facilities to position itself as a regional hub for natural gas trade and re-export.
Under the project, natural gas produced from the Cronos field will be transported to Egypt for processing in Zohr field facilities before being liquefied at the Damietta LNG plant and re-exported to European markets.
The minister said the arrangement would create added value for all parties while strengthening regional and global energy security.
He described the project as the first to directly link Cypriot gas discoveries with Egyptian infrastructure, saying it opens the door to further development of Eastern Mediterranean gas resources.
The investment decision follows the completion of agreements governing the use of Egypt’s gas processing and liquefaction facilities.
Badawi said Egypt’s selection as the processing and export hub reflects the strength of its technical capabilities and advanced infrastructure, adding that the country remains committed to attracting new investments, accelerating the development of gas discoveries and maximising the value of its energy assets.
Production from the Cronos field is expected to begin in 2028, supporting the continued operation of Egypt’s gas facilities and reinforcing the country’s role as a key hub for receiving, processing, liquefying and exporting Eastern Mediterranean gas.
