Serious questions have been raised about the ongoing costs of the "Prometheus" and its readiness to support natural gas imports were raised by DISY MP and Chairman of the Energy Committee, Nikos Georgiou, raised serious questions about the ongoing costs of the “Prometheus” ship and its readiness to support natural gas imports while speaking on the Alpha Kalimera program. While the energy debate centers on GSI, the Republic of Cyprus continues, according to him, to pay €345,000 per month for a ship that remains inactive.
As Mr. Georgiou stated, “We’re paying €345,000 every month for the Prometheus, which is docked and inactive,” with the amount totaling more than €4.1 million annually. The expenses cover, among other things, fuel, maintenance, and management of the ship, while a particular cause for concern is the fact that it has not yet been fully tested with a cargo of liquefied natural gas. “To date, the ship has not yet been tested as a floating unit for the import, storage, and regasification of liquefied natural gas,” he noted, warning that a potential failure of the tests could lead to additional construction work and extra costs amounting to millions of euros.
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Referring to the completion timelines for the terminal in Vasiliko, the Chairman of the Energy Committee estimated that, based on announcements by ETYFA officials and provided that the operational test runs are successfully completed, the project could be delivered “toward the end of 2028 or early 2029, in the best-case scenario.” He clarified, however, that the timeline assumes there will be no appeals from companies participating in the bidding process, as such actions could cause further delays, with consequences for Cyprus’s electricity supply. At the same time, he expressed concern that even if the terminal is completed, the ship may not be ready, emphasizing: “Without the ship, nothing can be done.”
Regarding the possibility of leasing the “Prometheus” to third parties in order to reduce its maintenance costs, Mr. Georgiou cited estimates of potential revenue ranging from $75,000 to $130,000 per day. He pointed out, however, that serious technical and legal issues arise, including the ship’s compatibility with other terminals and port infrastructure, as well as restrictions that may arise from the project’s European co-funding. “I believe that the Republic of Cyprus does not have the option to lease it to third parties,” he said, adding that potential modifications could affect its compatibility with the Vasilikos project, as well as its availability when it needs to be put into operation.
During the interview, the DISY MP also referred to the nine questions he submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the appointment of Nikos Tornaritis as the President of the Republic for the Cyprus Issue in Africa and Asia. “My questions to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were part of my duty to ensure accountability and exercise parliamentary oversight as a member of parliament,” he emphasized, explaining that his intervention concerned the usefulness of the institution, its planning, and the conditions for creating this specific position.
Mr. Georgiou expressed his dissatisfaction with the responses he received from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, noting that no substantive clarifications were provided regarding coordination with the diplomatic corps, funding, the budget, and the planning of related actions. He also requested that the plan discussed and approved by the Cabinet be submitted to Parliament. “We have not received any substantive response,” he stated, clarifying that his criticism is not directed at Nikos Tornaritis or his experience, but rather concerns the appropriateness and necessity of the institution.
