Exxon Mobil and Qatar Energy start exploratory drilling for natural gas off the coast of Cyprus, with potential for significant development.

ExxonMobil and Qatar Energy on Friday began exploratory drilling for natural gas in a prospect west of Cyprus, Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides said on X.

ExxonMobil and its partner offshore Cyprus, QatarEnergy, on Friday started drilling for natural gas in an exploration block in the island nation’s exclusive economic zone, the President of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, said. The U.S. supermajor and Qatar’s state energy giant launched drilling activities in Block 5, Christodoulides wrote on X.