The hydrocarbon exploration and exploitation activities in the Republic of Cyprus are governed by the Hydrocarbon (Prospection, Exploration and Exploitation) Law of 2007 (No.4(I)/2007) and the Hydrocarbon (Prospection, Exploration and Exploitation) Regulations of 2007 and 2009 (No.51/2007 and No.113/2009).
The legal framework of this law sets up the rules for the procedure granting authorisation for the prospection exploration and production of hydrocarbon and applies to the territorial waters, the continental shelf and the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Republic of Cyprus. Moreover, the hydrocarbon activities are subject to general Cypriot laws and regulations on environmental protection, health and safety.
Competent Authority
The competent authorities responsible for granting licenses for prospection, exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons in accordance to the Hydrocarbon (Prospection, Exploration and Exploitation) Law in Cyprus, is the Council of Ministers.
Moreover, according to this law, the Council of Ministers may grant an authorisation following a submission of an application for exploration and exploitation licenses. Such procedure may be initiated in the following manner:
(a) Either at the initiative of the Council of Ministers, by invitation notified by the Minister for the submission of application, that will be published in the Official Gazette of the Republic and/or the Official Journal of the European Union at least 90 days before the closing date for applications; or
(b) by invitations notified for the submission of applications by the Minister, with the approval of the Council of Ministers, that will be published in the Official Gazette of the Republic and/or the Official Journal of the European Union, following submission of an application by an entity. Any other interested entities shall have a period of at least 90 days after the date of publication to submit their applications.
Advisory Committee
Moreover, for the purposes of this Law an Advisory Committee is established for examining the content of the applications submitted pursuant to this Law, evaluating the applications for granting authorisations to prospect, exploring and exploiting hydrocarbons, as well as to evaluating any matters that arise in relation to the applications or which are laid before the examination and to advise the Minister on any matter arising in the implementation of the provisions of this Law.
The latter Advisory Committee is consisting of the following members:
(a) The Director General of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, who shall act as the Chairman of the Committee, or a representative thereof;
(b) The Attorney General of the Republic or a representative thereof;
(c) The Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or a representative thereof;
(d) The Director General of the Ministry of Finance or a representative thereof;
(e) The Director General of the Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment or a representative thereof;
(f) The Director of the Department of the Geological Survey or a representative thereof; and
(g) The Director of the Energy Service or a representative thereof.
Entities/Applicants
The entity that submits an application for obtaining an authorisation to explore hydrocarbons shall include in its application a brief note stating the activities of exploring hydrocarbons and the effects which those activities are likely to have on the environment and ways of their effective handling.
Moreover, subject to the provisions of this Law an entity that submits an application for obtaining an authorisation to exploit hydrocarbons is bound to comply with the provisions of the Assessment of the Effects of Certain Projects on the Environment Law.
Notwithstanding the provisions of the Assessment of the Effects of Certain Projects on the Environment Law, the applications, reports and other documents whose submission are provided in the said Law, shall be submitted to the Minister when they refer to projects falling within the provisions of this Law, and the Minister shall forward them in due course to the town planning or environmental authority, as the case may be.
General Criteria
As concern the criteria for the evaluation of the applications are drawn up and published in the Official Gazette of the Republic and the Official Journal of the European Union before the start of the period for submission of applications. If the criteria have already been published in the Official Gazette of the Republic, the publication in the Official Journal of the European Union may be limited to a reference to the publication in the Official Gazette of the Republic. Any change in the criteria shall be published in full in the official Gazette of the Republic and the Official Journal of the European Union. The criteria may relate to:
(a) national security or public interest;
(b) the technical and financial ability of the applicant;
(c) the ways in which the applicant proposes to carry out the activities specified in the authorisation;
(d) when the authorisation is offered for sale, the price which the applicant is prepared to pay in order to obtain the authorisation;
(e) any lack of efficiency and responsibility displayed by the applicant in operations under a previous authorisation
In case where two or more applicants that are evaluated in accordance with the aforementioned criteria of subsection have equal merit, then the Council of Ministers may adopt additional relevant criteria in order to decide to which entity the authorisation shall be granted. These additional criteria shall be published in the Official Gazette of the Republic and the Official Journal of the European Union.
Without prejudice to the aforesaid the Council of Ministers shall apply the above-mentioned criteria in a non-discriminatory manner between applicants.
Conditions for Granting
As regards the conditions and requirements for granting authorisations the authorisations may be granted on such conditions and requirements in order to ensure:
(a) the proper performance of the activities permitted by the authorisation;
(b) the financial contribution in money or a contribution in hydrocarbons;
(c) national security;
(d) public safety;
(e) public health;
(f) security of transport;
(g) protection of the environment
(h) protection of biological and mineral resources and of national treasures possessing artistic, historic or archaeological value;
(i) safety of installations and of workers;
(j) planned management of hydrocarbon resources, such as particularly the rate at which hydrocarbons are depleted or the optimisation of their recovery; and
(k) the need to secure revenues to the Republic
Moreover, in case an application is accepted the authorisation for the prospection of hydrocarbons shall grant to the holder the right to prospect for hydrocarbons in the authorised area under the conditions and requirements of granted license.
Additionally, the authorisation for the exploration of hydrocarbons shall grant to the holder exclusive rights to explore for hydrocarbons in the authorised area and in case where the holder discovers commercial hydrocarbons the authorised license shall grant to the holder the exclusive rights to exploit such discovery according to the provisions of this Law and Regulations.
Lastly the authorisation for the exploitation of hydrocarbons shall grant to the holder exclusive rights to exploit hydrocarbons in the authorised area under the conditions and requirements of the authorisation granted.
Duration of License or Authorization
Furthermore, the validity of the duration of an authorisation shall not exceed the period necessary to complete the activities specified in the authorisation. The Council of Ministers shall renew or extend the authorisation for such a time period as provided in the Contract between the Government of the Republic and the holder of an authorisation and in accordance with the conditions of the authorisation.
Framework for the Purchase of Natural Gas
Furthermore, the purchase of natural gas in the Republic of Cyprus is governed by the Regulating the Purchase of natural gas Law of 2004 (No. 183(I)/2004) and the Regulating the Purchase of Natural regulations 2006 (No. 298/2006, No. 297/2006 and No. 299/2006). The legal framework of this law establishes the rules for the transmission, distribution, supply and storage of natural gas. It lays down the rules relating to the organisation and functioning of the natural gas sector, access to the Cypriot market, the criteria and procedures applicable to the granting of authorisations for transmission, distribution, supply and storage of natural gas and the operation of systems.
Competent Authorities for Natural Gas
As regards to the competent authorities responsible for the natural gas, the Cyprus Energy Regulatory authority is responsible for the authorisation (e.g. licence, permission, concession, consent or approval) which is required for the construction or operation of natural gas facilities.
Public Gas Corporation
In addition to the framework of the implementation of the decisions of the Council of Ministers, a new independent private entity, the Public Gas Corporation (DEFA), was founded in November 2007. The purpose of DEFA, according to its Constitution, is to purchase, import, acquire, possess, use, exploit, store, transfer, provide, distribute, sell, supply and trade natural gas, to make use of the natural gas terminal, to regasify liquefied natural gas, as well as manage the distribution and supply network of natural gas and carry out any other work consistent with the above.
EU Aspects and Regulations
In addition, as Cyprus is a full member state of the European Union the European Union Directive on the conditions for granting and using authorisations for the prospection, exploration and production of hydrocarbons (Directive 94/22/EC), Directive 2003/55/EC concerning common rules for the internal market in natural gas and other relevant EU legislation applies to oil and gas activities offshore Cyprus.
Historic Developments
Oil and Gas exploration in Cyprus dates back in 1938 as follows:
- In 1938 Iraq Petroleum Company Limited contacted surveys in Cyprus. Such geological surveys lasted until 1948;
- In 1949 – 1970 exploration started in 4 onshore sites, in Moni, Tseri, Archaggelos and Lefkoniko. The exploration companies involved was local companies called Prospectors Limited and Forest Oil Corporation;
- In 1970 – 1974 Delta Exploration Inc. made the first seismic surveys in shallow water up to 200m depth;
- In 1975 Sefel Geophysical Limited acquired seismic surveys in the Eastern Mediterranean covering Cypriot waters;
- In 1985-1987 Soviet Academy of Scientists issued results of a study providing for moderate potential for Hydrocarbons offshore and in the shallow waters of Cyprus.
Recent Developments
The recent developments in Cyprus (in a nutshell are the following) are the following:
- In 2003 Cyprus determined the EEZ and its Borders with Egypt;
- In 2004 Cyprus determined the EEZ and its Borders with Lebanon;
- In late 2008 Cyprus granted an exploration license to Noble Energy Inc. providing for two exploration drillings in sea plot 12;
- In 2010 Cyprus determined the EEZ and its Borders with Israel;In 2011 a concession to Noble Energy was granted for the exploration of sea plot 12;
- On 1/10/2011 Noble Energy started drilling operation in sea plot 12;
- On 28/12/2011 Noble Energy announced the results of exploration confirming reserves of 5 – 8 trillion cubic feet of Gas in sea plot 12.
Second round of Licensing
The second round of Licensing for hydrocarbon exploration and exploitation in Cyprus waters is will commence on the 13th of February 2012. It will be through a European tender procedure and will include 12 sea plots adjacent to the Aphrodite plot. One of the criteria would be national interest, which undoubtedly connects the tender procedure and decision with the political issues between Cyprus and Turkey.
