The construction of the subsea pipeline linking Cyprus’s Aphrodite natural gas field to Egypt’s liquefaction facilities will start in Q1 2019, an official source at the Ministry of Petroleum told Al Mal.

The source said that the 700 million standard cubic feet per year (mscf/y) capacity pipeline is expected to start transporting Cypriot gas in 2022.

Part of the natural gas moved via the pipeline will be directed to the Egyptian local market, while the remainder will be re-exported via the country’s liquefaction facilities, the source pointed out, adding that the line will help achieve Egypt achieve natural gas self-sufficiency.

Egyptian petroleum minister Tarek El Molla signed the agreement to establish the pipeline with Cypriot Minister of Energy Yiorgos Lakkotrypis on September 20, Egypt Oil & Gas reported.