Energy Minister George Papanastasiou has been invited to appear before the House energy committee on Tuesday to update members on energy storage, hydrogen development and the liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal in Vasiliko.

At 9am, the committee will continue its discussion on the ministry’s strategies for energy storage and hydrogen, a topic under ongoing review.

It is noted that on February 14, 2025, the energy ministry launched the electronic application process for the Energy Storage Grant Scheme, which supports storage systems combined with renewable energy projects.

The deadline for submissions is March 28, 2025.

At 10am Papanastasiou will brief the committee on the progress of the LNG import terminal in Vasiliko.

As previously stated by the minister in early 2025, the Vasiliko infrastructure must be completed by the end of the year, with the floating storage and regasification unit (Fsru) “Prometheus” positioned at the terminal and ready for operation.

While acknowledging the timeline as optimistic, Papanastasiou emphasised that stakeholders must prioritise the project’s completion by late 2025.

“The aim is for the infrastructure to be ready, and for the vessel to be docked and operational. However, the introduction of natural gas may extend into the first quarter of 2026 to allow the EAC and private electricity producers to test their generators using regasified fuel,” he said.

Previously, the minister confirmed that the Fsru vessel is still moored at the Strait of Malacca, Malaysia, where it’s undergoing technical inspections and was expected to remain there for about two to three months.

“So right now checks are being carried out and at the same time we’re looking for those parts that are required so that the vessel can be considered fit as a floating regasification unit,” Papanastasiou explained.

The session will be attended by representatives from various ministries, the Cyprus Energy Regulatory Authority (Cera), the Cyprus Transmission System Operator (TSO), the Distribution System Operator (DSO), the Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC), the Cyprus Scientific and Technical Chamber (Etek), the employers and industrialists union (OEV), the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Keve), as well as energy sector associations and consumer representatives.