CAIRO, Mar 30 – Egypt and Cyprus have signed a framework agreement to expand cooperation in the gas sector, marking another step toward strengthening energy ties in the Eastern Mediterranean.
The non-binding agreement, signed during the Egypt Energy Show 2026, will serve as a foundation for further negotiations on the development and commercialization of Cyprus’s offshore gas reserves.
Under the arrangement, both countries will explore agreements for the sale of natural gas from Cyprus’s Kronos and Aphrodite fields to Egypt or its state-owned energy companies, with potential for liquefaction and re-export to Europe.
Cypriot officials indicated that gas production from the Kronos field could begin between 2027 and 2028, positioning the partnership as a medium-term contributor to regional supply.
The agreement builds on earlier deals signed in 2025 that enabled Cyprus to export gas to Egypt for processing and onward shipment, reinforcing ambitions to establish the Eastern Mediterranean as a strategic energy hub.
For Egypt, the partnership comes at a critical time as it faces rising energy costs linked to disruptions in global oil and gas markets caused by the ongoing Middle East conflict. The country, which relies partly on imported fuel, has already implemented measures including fuel price increases and reduced operating hours for businesses to manage the impact.
The expanding collaboration highlights a broader regional push to secure energy supplies and strengthen export capacity amid growing geopolitical uncertainty.
