The floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) Prometheus departed from Shanghai in the early hours of Saturday morning, the government confirmed.

This marks the beginning “of a new era for our energy sector,” government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis said on X.

The FSRU departed from China at 1.30am local time and by 10am, had travelled 13 nautical miles in China’s territorial waters.

The ship will initially head to Singapore, while consultations are underway for its next destination, where it will be certified as an FSRU and then put into service until it can be used at the Cypriot terminal Vasiliko.

Letymbiotis called it a decisive step for Cyprus’ energy strategy. “Establishing Cyprus’ autonomy in energy and access to cheaper energy is at the heart of our planning.”

Energy Minister George Papanastasiou echoed the same sentiment, calling it a “drucial and decisive step” in statements to the state broadcaster.

He specified the infrastructure at Vasiliko to utilise the FSRU is expected to be ready at the end of 2025.