Israeli Ambassador: Energy ties with Cyprus, Greece more important than ever

Cooperation among Israel, Cyprus, and Greece has never been more important, said Israel's Ambassador to Cyprus Oren Anolik, addressing the 12th Energy Symposium in Nicosia.

He added that Cyprus and Israel have been building a strong, sustainable, and interconnected energy future together.

Anolik emphasised the critical role of energy in fostering collaboration between the two countries and their partners in the Eastern Mediterranean. He highlighted the resilience of Israel’s energy infrastructure and the opportunities for expanded partnerships with Cyprus, despite the challenges posed by Israel’s ongoing conflict with Hamas, .

He also said that the Energy Ministers of the two countries had an open line of communication and were keen to expand the current collaboration. One of the ideas being explored is the initiative to connect natural gas pipelines of both countries. As he said, this initiative could allow Israel to diversify its natural gas export markets, while enabling Cyprus to contribute to Israel’s energy mix, enhancing energy security for both countries as well as Europe’s. The Ambassador also expressed optimism about resolving pending issues soon, including the long-standing dispute over the Aphrodite-Yishai gas reservoir.

Referring to the trilateral partnership among Israel, Greece and Cyprus, he said that it has already yielded significant milestones, such as the 2021 Memorandum of Understanding on the Great Sea Interconnector, a project aimed at linking the electricity grids of Israel, Cyprus, and Greece. He added that discussions were ongoing to finalise the technical and financial details of this critical infrastructure.

Ambassador Anolik also pointed to the potential for deeper collaboration in renewable energy and innovative technologies. As he said Israel’s leadership in solar energy, energy storage, and smart grid solutions presents significant opportunities for Cyprus to adopt cutting-edge practices.

“Looking forward, the path to a sustainable and secure energy future lies in deeper cooperation among Israel, Cyprus and Greece and regional cooperation. The challenges posed by climate change, coupled with the growing demand for energy require that we work together to develop new technologies, share best practises and implement joint infrastructure projects”, he said.

The Ambassador underscored the importance of continued collaboration to meet the region's energy needs while addressing global challenges like climate change. He added that the East Med Gas Forum, the Great Sea Interconnector, and the ongoing work in renewable energy and energy storage was just the beginning.

(Source: CNA)