Page 11 - DMEA Week 33 2019

DMEA terminals & shiPPing DMEA
East Med balances pipeline and LNG plans
middle east
A ministerial meeting between Greece, Cyprus and israel – and the US – has endorsed plans for the development of hydrocarbons in the Eastern Mediterranean. Particular support was given to Cyprus’ plans in its exclusive economic zone (EEZ), where Turkey began drilling a second well last week.
While there has previously been discussion of LNG exports from Cyprus and israel’s o shore gas resources, this was not mentioned in Greece’s o cial statement. instead, it noted the support of the three countries for the East Med gas pipeline, which it said was a “project of major signi cance for the energy security of the European Union that also establishes a strategic link between Europe and israel”.
An intergovernmental agreement was signed on the pipeline in December 2018. it was approved by the European Commission in February. e proposed 2,200-km pipeline has a projected cost of $7bn. it would run, via Greece and Crete, to Otranto, in italy.
Hosting the meeting was Greek Energy Minister Kostas Hatzidakis. Also attending was the US Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources, Francis Fannon. The three local ministers and US o cial signed a document in support of the Eastern Mediterranean Energy Corridor, which should help underpin the EU’s energy security.
in comments at the end of the conference, israeli Minister of Energy and Water Juwal Stein- itz expressed high hopes for the East Med pipe- line, although he went on to note the attraction of Egypt for israeli gas. “israeli gas is going to be exported to Egypt in approximately one month’s time from now – plus or minus a few weeks – the rst transmission of israel’s gas to Egypt will take place and some of it will also be going to Egyp- tian LNG facilities to be exported through Egypt to Europe”.
His Cypriot counterpart, George Lakkot- rypis, highlighted plans for the East Mediterra- nean Gas Corridor. “it is particularly important for us to nd ways of how we can actually mone- tise this wealth”, the minister said, noting the cash and expertise the US and its companies can bring to bear. “i was very happy to receive the solidarity and full support of my colleagues but also the US for the right of Cyprus to explore and exploit its natural resources.”
Bunkering
Greece is working on additional gas use plans. in late July, the Greek Ministry of Environment and Energy approved a project with 3,000 cubic metres of storage in the port of Patras, under the Poseidon Med ii programme. is facility is intended to support the use of LNG as a marine bunkering fuel.™
Detained Iranian tanker now on its way to Greece
middle east
AN iranian tanker previously called the Grace 1, but renamed the Adrian Darya 1, is now report- edly headed towards Greece following its release from British detention in Gibraltar, Reuters reported on August 19.
e Adrian Darya 1 was allegedly heading to Syria, British authorities said following the deployment of Royal Marines on July 4 to seize the ship whilst it was at the port near southern Spain. Rumours circulated at the time the true destination of the ship was a southern European country such as Greece.
e fully laden supertanker weighed anchor off Gibraltar at about 11 p.m. CET, Refinitiv ship-tracking data showed early on Monday morning, which was later con rmed by other
tracking so ware.
Greek authorities did not comment on the
destination of the Adrian Darya 1.
The US attempted to bring about an elev-
enth-hour seizure of the supertanker on August 17, in a bid to stop the ship’s exit from British ter- ritorial waters around the Gibraltar peninsula.
Gibraltar authorities threw out the US appeal to prolong the seizure of the vessel because it was bound by EU regulations. Meanwhile, iran still holds the British- agged Swedish-owned Stena impero tanker o the coast of southern iran, and said the Adrian Darya’s release was not con- nected to the case of the latter ship
On August 19, Tehran said it had warned Washington not to try to seize the tanker.™
Week 33 22•August•2019 w w w . N E W S B A S E . c o m P11