Big Names Flock to Cyprus Round

摘要

Cyprus will have plenty of LNG experience to draw on should significant gas discoveries follow any awards in its new offshore licensing round, judging by the companies that submitted bids last week. Interest was fairly robust, despite a Turkish intimidation campaign, with 15 offers made for nine of the 12 blocks on offer (WGI May9' 12).Bidders included major players such as French Total, Italian firms Eni, Edison and Enel, Australian Woodside, Malaysian state Petronas, US Marathon Oil and South Korea's Kogas - the world's biggest LNG buyer - with Commerce, Industry and Tourism Minister Neoclis Sylikiotis saying the outcome "surpassed our expectations."