The Zohr gas field: oil on the fire of conflict in the East Mediterranean Sea
Analysis by Camille Heneine, Staff Writer
October 12th, 2020
Since the discovery of big gas fields in the East Mediterranean Sea, such as Tamar in 2009 and Leviathan in 2010, this region has become highly coveted by regional powers and international governments like Europe and the United States. The US Geological Survey estimates that the Levant Bassin—the waters around Lebanon, Palestine, Cyprus, Israel and Egypt—roughly “contains 122.4 trillion cubic feet of technically recoverable gas" and Wood Mackenzie states that “all told, the natural gas reserves (…) could top 125 trillion cubic feet”.
According to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas (UNCLOS), each country has total governance of anything residing within its own EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone), 200 miles from their shores. However, in the Mediterranean Sea region, only Egypt, Greece, Lebanon and the Republic of Cyprus have signed the convention, leading to feuds between surrounding countries regarding the management and operation of the gas fields. For example, Turkey argues that Cyprus should only be entitled to a 12 mile EEZ and has sent a vessel, the Oruc Reis, to “harass international companies’ operations” and lead its own exploration.
Nevertheless, exploiting these reserves was intended to transform the region into a natural gas producer and create non-Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) that could be exported. This is very beneficial for Western governments and organisations, such as Italy’s Eni, France’s Total and the US’s Noble, that have invested in exploration blocks and have massive holdings in the region; creating indirect alliances with Middle Eastern countries.
The largest ever discovery in the Mediterranean Sea was the Zohr field located in Egypt’s EEZs. It is owned and operated by various institutions (ENI, Rosneft, BP and EGAS) and is estimated to hold up to “30 trillion cubic feet of recoverable gas reserves”. This finding is extremely advantageous for Egypt, as it erases its energy deficit and moreover, the country wants to become a “regional energy hub”, exploiting multiple locations in the Mediterranean and exporting LNG.
It also includes the neighbouring countries because part of the plan is to create a pipeline linking the Eastern Mediterranean gas fields to Europe, called “EastMed” that would pass through Israel, Egypt, Greece and Cyprus. This initiative would strengthen the bond between the countries that pipeline goes through and let them benefit from unlimited energy supplies.
That’s all well and good until you factor in Turkey and its perceived national interest. Turkey wants a piece of the gas, given it’s a Mediterranean power with a massive coastline. It feels that current arrangements have left it isolated and it has set in motion a series of actions that are enflaming the region, such as signing a deal with Tripoli in 2019 blocking the pipeline construction from Cyprus to Greece; or sending exploration vessels to irritate Greece. These actions only amplify pre-existing tensions between both countries. Indeed, Turkey has always defied current interpretation for territorial waters and EEZs, understandably given the proximity of Greek Islands to its shoreline, but it also interfered in regional conflicts from Syria to Libya in order to enhance its bargaining power. On the other hand, the 27th of August 2020, Greece signed a maritime accord with Egypt, giving them both full access and control over resources found in a specific EEZ. To send a message to Western governments, Turkey found itself on the opposite side as the only power supporting the authority of Fayez El-Sarraj in Tripoli, setting it up against Greece, Egypt, the UAE and France, who support the insurgency of Khalifa Haftar, and ensuring the continuation of feuds that hamper efforts for regional cooperation in energy supply.
For that to happen and for the countries of the Mediterranean to exploit the gas wealth lurking below the surface, Turkey and Greece must negotiate a solution acceptable to both, which is what the EU and the UN have been pressuring both countries to do.
On the 13th of September 2020, Turkey recalled its vessels in an attempt to ease up tensions. In response, on the 28th of September, Greece and the United States called for a meeting to discuss “maritime disputes in the east Mediterranean”. The discussions are still ongoing and US Secretary of State Pompeo stated that “he hoped the exploratory talks, which will resume soon, will also bring results.”
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