Vasiliko LNG Terminal Development Faces New Strategic Challenges

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

February 26, 2026

The completion of the liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal upgrade in Vasiliko has become a key issue for Cyprus’ National Petroleum Company (ETYFA) and the Ministry of Energy, as authorities work to address delays and operational constraints tied to the project.

Completion Challenges And Operational Bottlenecks

One of the main challenges involves finalizing ongoing construction and technical work linked to the LNG terminal upgrade. Officials are managing delays while attempting to maintain energy supply stability and ensure the project remains aligned with long-term energy planning. The complexity of the infrastructure and regulatory requirements has added pressure to project timelines.

Follow THE FUTURE on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and Telegram

Management Of The Prometheus Vessel

A second major issue concerns the Prometheus vessel, which was converted into a floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) intended to support LNG operations in Cyprus.

Authorities are exploring options to test the vessel’s capabilities and potentially lease it as an interim solution before deployment in Cyprus. However, current European Commission rules restrict the use of the vessel for profit-generating operations at foreign terminals, as EU funding for its conversion was granted specifically to support Cyprus’ energy needs.

European Regulatory Constraints And Cyprus’ Strategy

Cyprus is seeking regulatory clarity from the European Commission regarding future use of the vessel. Although the project initially received €101 million in EU funding, earlier procedural issues resulted in partial repayment, with approximately €68 million returned from €71 million already disbursed.

Officials argue that the project has since relied largely on domestic financing and loans from institutions including the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). They say greater flexibility in using the vessel could help reduce operational costs while preserving asset readiness.

Successful Conversions And Future Implications

Government sources say technical modifications to the Prometheus have been completed, and the vessel is currently moored at the Kuala Linggi Base in Malaysia under the management of Norwegian firm Wilhelmsen.

The main unresolved issue remains regulatory approval, as prolonged inactivity could increase costs and delay the broader LNG strategy tied to Cyprus’ energy transition.

The Future Forbes Realty Global Properties

Copyright Law Struggles To Keep Up With AI Training

by News Editor

August 24, 2026

Courts Are Still Applying Old Copyright Rules To AI

AI companies train models on enormous amounts of published material, including books, articles and academic research. Whether using that content without authors’ permission violates copyright law remains unresolved.

Much of the debate centres on fair use, which allows copyrighted material to be used without permission in certain circumstances. Courts consider factors such as the purpose of the use, how much material was involved and its impact on the original market.

Follow THE FUTURE on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and Telegram

Anthropic Case Sets An Important Precedent

A major case involving Anthropic and a group of authors provided one of the clearest rulings so far. Judge William Alsup found that using copyrighted books to train AI models was lawful, comparing the process to people reading and studying literature before creating something new.

Anthropic was nevertheless ordered to pay $1.5 billion in a settlement. The penalty concerned books the company had obtained from illegal online libraries rather than the AI training itself.

For AI companies, that distinction could prove significant because it separates studying copyrighted material from directly copying it.

Competition Could Be The Key Issue

A case involving Thomson Reuters and Ross Intelligence offers a different perspective. A court ruled that Ross could not claim fair use after using Reuters’ copyrighted material to develop a competing AI-powered legal research platform.

The decision suggests courts may be less willing to consider AI training fair use when copyrighted content is used to build a product that directly competes with the original.

For authors, an unresolved question is whether AI-generated content should be considered competition for the works used to train these models.

The Law Has Yet To Catch Up

US copyright law predates generative AI by decades, leaving courts to apply old principles to new technology. Questions also remain over copyright protection for AI-generated works. In Thaler v. Perlmutter, a court ruled that material created entirely by AI cannot receive copyright protection.

Major AI companies remain involved in copyright litigation, and different courts could reach different conclusions. For now, there is no universal rule: the legality of AI training will depend on the circumstances of each case and how courts ultimately interpret copyright and fair use.

Breaking news