Natural Gas Reserves in the Eastern Mediterranean

In recent years, the discovery of natural gas reserves in the Eastern Mediterranean has become a transformative element in the region's energy geopolitics. These reserves not only diversify energy supply but also reshape economic and political interactions among the regional countries. However, the existence of these resources brings potential for both new cooperation opportunities and conflicts due to issues such as maritime jurisdiction areas and resource sharing.

East Mediterranian Political Map (Source: Free world maps web site)

Major Discovered Reserves

• Tamar Field (2009): Discovered off the coast of Israel in 2009, the Tamar Field, with approximately 280 billion cubic meters of natural gas reserves, marked a turning point for the region. This field was one of the largest deep-water natural gas fields globally at the time of its discovery.
• Leviathan Field (2010): Located 130 km off Israel's coast, the Leviathan Field, with reserves of 649 billion cubic meters, is considered one of the largest gas fields in the Eastern Mediterranean. This discovery played a significant role in Israel's transformation into a natural gas-exporting country.
• Aphrodite Field (2011): Situated south of Cyprus, the Aphrodite Field, with reserves of 127 billion cubic meters, diversified the region's energy balance. This discovery significantly enhanced Cyprus's position in energy geopolitics.
• Zohr Field (2015): Found off the coast of Egypt, the Zohr Field, with an estimated 849 billion cubic meters of reserves, stands out as the largest gas field in the Eastern Mediterranean. It was instrumental in Egypt's transition from a natural gas importer to an exporter.
• Other Discoveries:
• • Calypso Field (2018): Located off Cyprus, this field, although not providing a definitive reserve estimate, contributes to the region's energy potential.
  • Glaucus-1 Field (2019): Found southwest of Cyprus, this field is estimated to hold reserves between 142-227 billion cubic meters.

Regional and Global Impacts

• Economic Opportunities: The discovered gas reserves in the Eastern Mediterranean provide a significant source of revenue for regional countries, beyond meeting energy needs. The processing and delivery of these resources to international markets are critical for both energy companies and regional economies.
• Geopolitical Tensions: The gas reserves in the Eastern Mediterranean are central to disputes over maritime jurisdiction areas among countries. Particularly, Turkey, Greece, and the Republic of Cyprus have serious disagreements over the sharing of these resources. Turkey conducts drilling and seismic exploration activities to protect its continental shelf and the rights of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
• Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum (EMGF): Established in January 2019, the EMGF brings together Egypt, Israel, the Republic of Cyprus, Greece, Jordan, Palestine, and Italy to promote cooperative use of energy resources in the region. However, Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus are not part of the forum, creating a basis for new diplomatic tensions.
• Technological and Commercial Connections: The energy resources in the Eastern Mediterranean have the potential to reduce Europe’s dependence on Russia for energy supply. Potential pipeline projects and LNG infrastructure for energy delivery to Europe play a critical role in shaping commercial developments.

Disputed Economic Exclusive Zones (EEZ) in East Mediterranian (Source: Stratfor/ TRT World)

Challenges and Risks

• Maritime Jurisdiction Disputes: Determining maritime jurisdiction areas in the region relies on international regulations like the British Maritime Law and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). However, differing interpretations and claims by parties often lead to disputes.
• Economic and Technological Constraints: Extracting and processing gas reserves require advanced technology and significant financial resources. Smaller economies like the Republic of Cyprus and Palestine are heavily reliant on international investments for this purpose.
• Environmental Impacts: Natural gas extraction activities can cause significant damage to marine ecosystems. Therefore, strict environmental regulations are necessary for energy activities in the region.