Cyprus is poised to play a pivotal role in Europe’s energy security, with plans to export natural gas from its offshore reserves to European markets as early as 2027. President Nikos Christodoulides announced this ambitious timeline during an energy conference, highlighting the Cronos deposit as the first source of exportable gas. Operated by a consortium of Italian energy giant Eni and French company TotalEnergies, the Cronos project is expected to make its final investment decision in 2024. The gas will be transported to Egypt’s Damietta port for liquefaction before being shipped to Europe. Christodoulides emphasized Cyprus’s strategic importance as an alternative energy corridor in the Eastern Mediterranean, aligning its interests with powerful states to bolster regional energy security. Cypriot Energy Minister George Papanastasiou described the 2027 target as “optimistic but achievable,” citing the proximity of existing infrastructure connecting Cronos to Egypt’s Zor deposit, located just 80 kilometers away. Additionally, plans are underway to develop the Aphrodite deposit, where a floating processing plant will convert hydrocarbons into dry gas for direct consumption in Egypt or export to Europe. This project involves a partnership between Chevron, Shell, and Israel’s NewMed Energy. Christodoulides also revealed plans to visit Lebanon next week to discuss energy cooperation, as unresolved maritime border disputes have hindered exploration in adjacent waters. Meanwhile, ExxonMobil and QatarEnergy are exploring two blocks off Cyprus’s southern coast, where significant discoveries like the Glaucus and Pegasus deposits have been made, further solidifying Cyprus’s position as a key player in the global energy landscape.