Gas to power gives Cyprus-Israel gas plan momentum

There is grounds for an underwater natural gas pipeline from Israel to Cyprus to produce electricity both for domestic needs and to channel through the EuroAsia Interconnector, the Cyprus News Agency reported on Saturday.

New data that could potentially give greater momentum to the energy interconnection between Cyprus and Israel due to the increased electricity needs of the neighbouring country, emerged during the visit there this week by Cyprus Energy Minister George Papanastasiou.

There appears to be ground for a structure based on which Israel can send natural gas through an undersea pipeline to Cyprus, where electricity will be produced for both Cyprus’ electricity generation needs and Israel’s. The generated electricity will be channelled through the EuroAsia Interconnector electrical interconnection cable, CNA said.

According to CNA’s information, the neighbouring country will present an electricity production deficit of 4 to 5 Gigawatts (GW) in the next four to five years, with the Israeli side giving natural gas to Cyprus which in turn will give electricity to Israel.

In this way, the capital investment that will be required for the construction of the pipeline can be justified, while with a larger diameter pipeline natural gas can also be channeled for the purpose of exporting liquefied natural gas to the markets.

Moreover, with the development of conventional generation combined with green electricity generation, Cyprus will be able to supply Israel to meet these electricity needs.

In this regard, the project which the Cypriot side called ‘Gas-to-Power’, means, ‘ an authoritative source told CNA, that “Israel will supply us with gas and electricity will be returned”.

These issues are referred to technical committees, one for natural gas and hydrogen and another for electricity.

The technicians are expected to start their work in July.

During its presence in Israel, the Cypriot delegation led by Papanastasiou also visited the natural gas network infrastructure company (INGL), which manages the networks through which natural gas is channelled to end consumers in Israel, Egypt and Jordan.

“The thought that was discussed is for Cyprus to become part of this network. It was decided that this company would be suitable to manage this pipeline as part of its network” and the connection with Cyprus, said the same source.

The EuroAsia Interconnector is a common interest project expected to end the energy isolation of Cyprus which is the last electricity-isolated EU member state, linking the national electricity grids of Israel, Cyprus and Greece with the European electricity grid.