President heads to Egypt, targets first gas exports to Europe by 2027

Cyprus is aiming to achieve its first sale of natural gas to Europe via Egypt by 2027 to 2028, President Nikos Christodoulides said on Sunday, ahead of his departure to Cairo for a major regional energy summit.

Speaking before travelling to participate in EGYPES 2026, Christodoulides said the visit “exclusively concerns energy issues” and signalled that agreements are expected to be signed during the trip.

“Our goal… is to have the first sale of Cypriot natural gas to Europe through Egypt around 2027–2028,” he said, adding that the country is now “on the right track after many years”.

The president is due to hold a bilateral meeting with President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi on the sidelines of the conference, with discussions set to focus on energy cooperation, regional developments and bilateral relations.

He will also address the opening ceremony and meet senior energy stakeholders, including the chief executive of TotalEnergies.

The conference, held at the Al Manara International Conference Centre in Cairo from March 30 to April 1, brings together heads of state, investors and industry leaders to advance energy security and regional cooperation across the Mediterranean and North Africa.

Cyprus’ push to commercialise its offshore gas reserves follows more than a decade of limited progress since the first discovery in its exclusive economic zone in 2011.

Recent developments suggest movement towards implementation, with key projects such as the Kronos and Aphrodite fields advancing through planning and investment stages.

Energy minister Michalis Damianos has indicated that a final investment decision on the Kronos field is expected by the end of March, with the aim of transporting natural gas to Egypt for processing in the first half of 2028 before export to European markets.

Egyptian officials have also expressed commitment to facilitating the process, with plans to channel Cypriot gas through existing facilities for onward export.