Italian firm to drill two wells off Cyprus in next 2 months

The top executive of ENI said Friday that the Italian oil and gas company will drill two exploratory wells off Cyprus over the next two months, expressing confidence that significant reserves can be found for possible export to Europe.

ENI CEO Claudio Descalzi described Cyprus as a "natural bridge" linking existing and potential gas deposits in the eastern Mediterranean with Europe, which is looking to diversify its energy sources amid increasing gas consumption.

"We believe in Cyprus," Descalzi said after talks with Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades. "Cyprus is a natural bridge to Europe and Europe is importing more than 70 percent of its gas and gas consumption is growing."

Gas consumption rose 5 percent in Europe last year and it will increase annually by 100 million cubic meters (3.5 billion cubic feet) each of the next two years, said Descalzi.

The...