President says departure of 'Prometheus' a positive development, first stop Singapore

President Nikos Christodoulides has said that the departure of the floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) 'Prometheus' is a positive development, noting that its first stop will be Singapore.

"It is a positive development that it has departed. This is one of the three legs concerning Vasiliko terminal, there are two others and all the steps are in progress so that it can be completed as soon as possible and can be utilised, for the benefit of the people of Cyprus", the President noted.

Natural gas, he said, is one of the three pillars of Cyprus' energy strategy and the sooner we can utilise it, the better it will be for the benefit of the Cypriot people.

The first stop of 'Prometheus', he said, is Singapore, and added that "we are in discussions with a specific state, so that it can carry out the relevant checks on the readiness of the ship and whatever else needs to be done".

He added that then, it can sail to Cyprus and be utilised as soon as the other two steps concerning the land projects are ready. 

"So, right now we see where it will end up, we are close to an agreement, I don't want to mention the country before we are in the final stage, and from there on to see how it will be utilised until the infrastructure is ready in Cyprus for us to utilise it, where it will be rented," he concluded.

Cyprus has achieved a first, very important step

Also, Minister of Energy, Commerce and Industry, George Papanastasiou, said that Cyprus has achieved a first, very important step, , following the departure of the floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) 'Prometheus'.

"There is still much to be done" the Minister wrote on 'X' and thanked his team at the Ministry, the ETYFA team (Natural Gas Infrastructure Company) and the Presidency "for their hard work".

"We continue with determination until the completion of the terminal project in Vasiliko," he noted.

Meanwhile, Government Spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis wrote on 'X' that the departure of the floating unit 'Prometheus' constitutes a decisive step for our country's energy strategy.

"Today (Saturday, 14 December) at 01:30 (local time) 'Prometheus' departed from the port in China and has now exited the 13 nautical miles of Chinese territorial waters".

This, he underlined, marks the beginning of a new energy era for our country.

"With planning, dedication, perseverance and determination in every step that needs to be taken, we will continue. The energy autonomy of the Republic of Cyprus and access to cheaper energy for citizens are the focus of our energy planning," he concludes.

(Source: CNA)