Cypriot and Israeli Energy Ministers George Papanastasiou and Israel Katz committed during a meeting they held in Israel, to initiate technical discussion through two expert groups for electricity and gas pipeline interconnection with the aim to convene in July.

They also committed to continue negotiations regarding the Aphrodite-Ishai issue with the goal of reaching an agreement by the end of the year.

The Minister of Energy, Commerce and Industry, George Papanastasiou concluded this afternoon his two-day visit in Israel, where he met with his Israeli counterpart, Minister of Energy and Infrastructures, Israel Katz.

During the talks, the two Ministers and their professional teams discussed the electricity interconnection between Cyprus and Israel, with the goal of making progress ahead of COP28, which will be held in Dubai by the end of the year.

As for the commitment expressed by the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Chistodoulides, and the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu during their meeting last month in Israel, Ministers Papannastasiou and Katz discussed the framework of the discussion for cooperation in the development of regional natural gas infrastructure and the Cyprus Gateway Initiative, aiming to transfer natural gas from the Eastern Mediterranean and from Israeli natural gas resources to Europe through Cyprus. As for this specific issue, the Ministers committed to initiate technical discussion through two expert groups for electricity and gas pipeline interconnection with the aim to convene in July.

The Aphrodite-Ishai matter was also discussed with the Ministers committing to continue negotiations with the goal of reaching an agreement by the end of the year.

The Minister of Energy, Commerce and Industry, George Papanastasiou, thanked his Israeli counterpart for the warm welcome and the fruitful deliberations during the past two days and reaffirmed “the strong commitment of the two countries to further strengthening and deepening Cyprus and Israel’s partnership, based on common values and shared strategic interests including energy”.

 “We discussed about how the current energy crisis highlights the need for energy diversification, security of supply and increased interconnectivity, and we agreed to expedite our discussions in various levels, in a result-oriented manner in order to create a reliable energy corridor from the Eastern Mediterranean”, Papanastasiou stressed, adding that Cyprus and Israel “focus on the electrical interconnection between the two countries, as well as how Cyprus can serve as a gateway for Israeli gas to Europe”.

The Israeli Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, Israel Katz, said that Israel and Cyprus, through their “enduring alliance and shared vision resonate powerfully, and in the present era, the energy sector assumes a pivotal role as a bedrock for fortifying the bonds between them”.

 “It is within this context that my fervent vision of propelling the State of Israel into a vibrant energy bridge connecting the East and West finds it manifestation”, Katz stressed, adding that “Cyprus stands as an indispensable partner in the realization of this vision”.