THE government of Cyprus has discounted the idea of constructing a gas pipeline linking it to Syria, and has reportedly opted to import liquefied natural gas instead, its energy minister said recently.
"A decision has been taken for LNG, and we shall go out to tender in about eighteen months," said Commerce, Industry and Tourism Minister Nicos Rolandis. He went on to say that Cyprus would issue an international tender for the supply of LNG and the construction of storage terminals, with the first supplies expected by the end of 2007.
Rolandis said it was the view of both external consultants and government specialists that a gas pipeline linking the east Mediterranean island to Syria was not feasible. Cyprus was considering the link, which would have effectively been a feed off a longer grid planned to link Syria to Egypt through Jordan and Lebanon. "A gas pipeline was not possible because of the delays in the construction of the pipeline between Egypt and Syria," Rolandis is reported to have said.
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