President Nikos Christodoulides has urged Chevron to accelerate the next steps in developing the Aphrodite gas field, saying the project is a strategic priority for the Republic of Cyprus.
Christodoulides made the comments during a meeting with Chevron’s President of Base Assets and Emerging Countries, Javier La Rosa, in New York on September 22. The President said the time had come to move decisively from planning to implementation while maintaining momentum.
Focus on final investment decision
Government Spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis said the meeting reaffirmed a shared commitment to developing the field based on the approved Development and Production Plan.
The two sides discussed progress on technical and commercial work and the next steps towards a Final Investment Decision (FID). Christodoulides stressed the importance of accelerating the timetable to allow the FID to be reached as soon as possible and natural gas production to begin.
The Aphrodite field is located in Block 12 of Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone and is operated by Chevron, which holds a 35% interest alongside partners Shell and NewMed Energy. Cyprus approved modifications to the field’s Development and Production Plan in February 2025.
Cyprus-Egypt energy cooperation
The meeting also focused on the strategic importance of energy cooperation between Cyprus and Egypt and progress towards using Egypt’s existing infrastructure to commercialise gas from Aphrodite.
Letymbiotis said this could create prospects for the commercial utilisation of gas deposits in Cyprus’ EEZ while strengthening regional energy planning and connectivity in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Christodoulides also reiterated Cyprus’ readiness to work closely with Chevron and the other partners involved in the project to facilitate the next steps and maintain momentum.
Letymbiotis said successful development of Aphrodite would represent an important milestone for Cyprus and strengthen the Eastern Mediterranean’s role in European energy planning and energy security.
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