Christodoulides reportedly intervened in Kronos field deal with ENI

President of the Republic of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides reportedly intervened with Italian company ENI to help secure an agreement on developing the Kronos field, according to the Politis newspaper. The newspaper cited energy expert Haralambos Ellinas, who told Politis radio that the president got involved despite reservations from the Greek Cypriot negotiating team about the conditions.

Ellinas said ENI executives had telephoned Christodoulides and asked him to intervene. He said the contact led to political involvement that moved the deal forward. He added that the economic terms were not known, although information suggested Cyprus would gain limited economic benefit.

The newspaper reported that former energy minister Giorgos Papanastasiou, who also took part in the programme, neither accepted nor rejected the information about the intervention. Papanastasiou acknowledged that the Republic of Cyprus is not included in the value arising from liquefaction of natural gas.