Ministry of Environment and Energy January 20, 2025 announced significant eventwhich is part of the national strategy to achieve energy independence and reduce energy costs, and also includes initiatives to enhance the protection of the marine environment.
American company Chemron – the second largest private company in the world in the field of hydrocarbons – expressed interest to conduct research in the marine area southwest of the Peloponnese and to the west of Crete, which borders the marine areas of a similar competition in 2014.
The Ministry of Environment and Energy accepts this application from the company and will issue a corresponding decision within a week, which will determine the exact scope and immediate announcement of an international competition, and the spatial expansion of the research will be assessed in the near future.
Greek hydrocarbon and energy resources management company (ΕΔΕΥΕΠ) has applied for the corresponding Strategic Environmental Study. The press release published on this occasion states: “The natural gas we seek to discover and extract is a critical transition fuel for Europe before 2050and also for the rest of the world after 2050.
Therefore, the exploitation of potential inland deposits is of great importance for energy, economic and social sustainability within green transition.
Interest Chemroncombined with the fact that our country is already working ExxonMobilhighlights the simultaneous presence of two energy giants and reinforces confidence that Greece can take a leading role in the global energy market, confirming that our country is an attractive investment destination.
In addition, this is another practical recognition of the strategy of the Greek government, the Ministry of Environment and Energy and the Greek Hydrocarbons and Energy Resources Management Company to exploit the potential natural gas reserves of our country in the interests of energy independence and security, as well as the national economy.
It is important that the above event occurs while taking into account ecological footprintto provide not only energy, but also significant environmental benefits for the country.
Firstly, already licensed offshore areas for hydrocarbon research in the Ionian Sea are released, which will be expanded spatially and make Ionian Sea National Marine Park continuous to achieve environmental goals.
The corresponding study, which is nearing completion, concerns the sea area starting from Antikytheracovering a continuous maritime zone along the southern and western coasts of the Peloponnese to Zakynthos, Kefalonia, Ithaca And Lefkadaincluding ecologically important islands Strophades. An agreement has already been reached with the leasing company to release the allocated areas.
Secondly, in cooperation with the contracting company will be released and included in the new National Marine Park the Katakolo concession covering a small oil field off the western coast of the Peloponnese.
Minister of Environment and Energy Mr. Thodoros Skyllakakis stated: “The investment interest of another world-class company such as the American Chemronhighlights the confidence of the international investment community in the government Kyriakos Mitsotakisand also once again demonstrates Greece’s ability to become a regional energy hub and ensure its energy independence. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the CEO ΕΔΕΥΕΠ Mr. Aristofanis Stephato and the Secretary General for Natural Environment and Waters, Mr. Peter Varelidisas well as their teams for the systematic and consistent work that led to today’s result.”
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