Egypt and Cyprus Sign New Cooperation Framework to Deepen Natural Gas Partnership

Egypt and Cyprus signed a framework agreement on natural gas cooperation on Monday at the 2026 Egypt Energy Exhibition.

A spokesperson for the Cypriot Presidency stated that this non-binding agreement will serve as the basis for further negotiations between the two countries regarding the development and utilization of Cyprus’s oil and gas reserves.

Another Cypriot government official added that the agreement will enable the two countries to negotiate the sale of natural gas from the Cyprus Kornos and Aphrodite offshore fields to Egypt or Egyptian state-owned enterprises.

Cypriot officials indicated that they might start extracting natural gas from the Kornos field in 2027 or 2028.

Last year, Egypt and Cyprus signed an agreement allowing Cyprus’s offshore gas to be exported to Egypt for liquefaction and then re-exported to Europe. Both countries hope to strengthen the Eastern Mediterranean’s role as an energy hub through this cooperation.

Egypt is experiencing spillover effects from the Iran war, especially in the energy sector, as the country relies on fuel imports. With the disruption of oil and gas production and trade in the Middle East, related costs have surged sharply.

The Egyptian government has raised fuel prices and public transportation fares, announced a work-from-home policy, and required most malls, shops, and restaurants to close by 9 p.m. every Friday.