ExxonMobil

The ExxonMobil - Qatar Petroloeum joint venture is expected to resume drilling in the Exclusive Economic Zone of Cyprus (EEZ) at the end of November and the beginning of December, said the Minister of Energy, Trade and Industry of the Republic of Cyprus Natasa Pileidou.

The final date

Romanian gas producer Romgaz has the capacity to support investment in the Neptun Deep deep-water offshore gas field development project in the Black Sea and should be the operator of this project, Chairman of the Romanian National Committee of the World Energy Council Iulian Iancu told a news briefing on Tuesday.

Energy Minister Virgil Popescu met on Wednesday with the representatives of the US company ExxonMobil, and one of the topics of discussion was the collaboration with Romgaz in the field of carbon storage, according to a post on the minister's Facebook page.

Romgaz is ready to take over ExxonMobil's share in the Neptun Deep Black Sea offshore natural gas project, and funding that will be a mix of equity and raised money, Romgaz Director General Aristotle Jude told a news conference on Tuesday. "On March 31, we submitted an offer to take over ExxonMobil's share in the Neptun Deep block.

 Romania's interest is for investment in the Neptune Deep field in the Black Sea to start in 2022, otherwise the natural gas there will lose its value, said on Thursday Director of the National Mineral Resources Agency (ANRM) Sorin Gal.

Turkey will not suspend its drilling activities in the east Mediterranean Sea although energy prices have fallen to historic levels due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, the Turkish energy minister said on May 11.

Turkey has intensified hydrocarbon exploration and drilling activities in the Eastern Mediterranean despite the COVID-19 pandemic, which along with low oil prices has caused the temporary suspension of activities of foreign oil companies in the region.

Despite the negative consequences of the pandemic on drilling plans in the region, Turkey is expanding its operations.

The energy companies Total of France and Eni of Italy have followed the example of ExxonMobil and suspended their planned drilling activities in Cyprus's exclusive economic zone this year due to concerns about the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, Kathimerini Cyprus has learned. 

ExxonMobil's crucial drilling plans to confirm a large gas deposit south of Cyprus have been put on hold, with a local media report citing delays due to the coronavirus pandemic.

According to Philenews, verification drilling that was scheduled to take place in Block 10 of Cyprus' Exclusive Economic Zone has been pushed back to September 2021.

Αs Turkish President Recep Tayyip was declaring to  members of his AK Party that Greece has resigned itself to Ankara's geopolitical designs in the Mediterranean, Cyprus' Energy Minister Georgios Lakkotrypis told an audience at the Greek foreign ministry that his country will move forward with its hydrocarbons drilling plans in its exclusive economic zone.