Gazprom may search for Greek Cyprus gas

ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News

A boat sways under the weight of the ice at a port in Geneva. Russia’s Gazprom says the heavy cold across Europe has boosted gas demand. AP photo

State controlled Russian energy giant Gazprom may bid for the development of hydrocarbon fields in Greek Cyprus, a top executive of a Russian commerce association has announced, according to the Anatolia News Agency.

“We know that Gazprom wishes to participate in the tender. We would like experienced Russian firms to operate on [Greek] Cypriot fields,” said Georgy Petrov, the head of the Commerce and Industry Chamber of Russia. He added that the tender regarding the development of the fields will be lodged next spring. 

Petrov did not elaborate on whether other Russian energy firms would bid for the tender, but he said that the hydrocarbon reserves were located in the Mediterranean continental shelf of the Greek Cyprus.

Meanwhile, the strategy to build natural gas storages close to final consumers and main supply routes has been proved to be reasonable and efficient, as it allowed Gazprom to meet increasing demand in Europe, which has recently been caught in cold snap. Gazprom will also double its underground storage capacity, reaching 5 billion cubic meters by 2015, Alexander Medvedev, chairman of the company, said in a press release.

Iranian ready to increase gas export 

Iran is ready to increase natural gas exports to Turkey, the spokesman of the Iranian National Gas Company Majid Boujarzadeh has said, according to the Mehr news agency. 

“Iran is currently exporting 30 million cubic meters of gas per day,” he said, adding that talks are continuing on the increased gas demand. Gas exports to Turkey can be increased if Turkey’s pipeline capacity is available, Boujarzadeh said.
TEHRAN - Anatolia News Agency