Egypt, Cyprus, EGAS, and Chevron aim to finalize Aphrodite gas project agreements by September 2026, advancing regional energy cooperation.
Egypt and Cyprus have made significant progress toward advancing the development of the Aphrodite offshore natural gas field, with both countries working closely to complete the technical and commercial arrangements required for the project. The initiative is designed to connect Cyprus’s Aphrodite gas reserves with Egypt’s established energy infrastructure, enabling natural gas production from the field to be transported to Egypt for processing, liquefaction, and eventual export to international markets. This strategy is expected to strengthen Egypt’s position as a leading regional hub for natural gas trading, processing, and energy exchange in the Eastern Mediterranean.
The latest developments were discussed during a high-level meeting between Karim Badawi, Egypt’s Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, and Scott Childers, Director of Strategic Assets and Emerging Markets at Chevron, the operator of the Aphrodite field. Childers was accompanied by a delegation from Chevron as both sides reviewed ongoing preparations related to the development and production phases of the offshore gas project.
The discussions also involved key Egyptian energy officials, including Said Salyma, Executive Managing Director of the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS), and Mohamed El-Bagoury, Head of the Central Department for Legal Affairs at the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources. During the meeting, participants agreed to establish September 2026 as the target date for completing the principal agreements governing the project. To achieve this objective, both parties committed to increasing the frequency of coordination meetings and accelerating the review process for draft agreements so that final versions can be completed within the designated timeframe.
Minister Badawi reiterated Egypt’s strong commitment to supporting the successful execution of the project. He emphasized that adherence to the agreed schedule is critical for moving the development into its implementation stage. According to Badawi, timely completion of the required agreements will generate benefits for all stakeholders, including Egypt, Cyprus, and the international investment partners involved in the Aphrodite field.
Chevron highlighted that progress is being made across both technical and commercial workstreams. Extensive engineering studies and planning activities are currently underway, focusing on essential infrastructure components such as the floating production facility, subsea pipeline systems, and the broader network required for transporting and processing natural gas. These technical evaluations are considered fundamental to ensuring the project's operational efficiency and long-term viability.
Childers noted that finalizing the commercial and technical agreements represents a crucial milestone on the path toward reaching a Final Investment Decision (FID). Securing this decision will allow project partners to proceed with major capital investments and construction activities necessary to bring the field into production.
The Aphrodite project has been gathering momentum since April 2025, when Cyprus announced plans for Chevron to commence seabed survey operations during the summer season. These surveys were intended to support the design and construction of a strategic subsea pipeline that will connect the Aphrodite gas field, located in the Eastern Mediterranean, directly to Egypt’s energy infrastructure.
The planned development follows a memorandum of understanding signed during the EGYPES 2025 conference by Egypt, Cyprus, and Chevron. That agreement established a framework for the commercial development and utilization of the natural gas reserves contained within Block 12 of Cyprus’s Exclusive Economic Zone. The collaboration is viewed as an important step toward enhancing regional energy cooperation, unlocking offshore gas resources, and creating new export opportunities that can contribute to energy security and economic growth across the Eastern Mediterranean region.
