Greece is taking a step towards becoming independent of Russian gas: the country wants to supply itself and other countries in Europe with gas. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis opened a promising project in Alexandroupolis in the presence of EU Council President Charles Michel.
With the ongoing tensions between the EU and Russia, alternative gas supply activities have started in Europe. Greece is to play a decisive role in this in the future. The Mediterranean country started construction of a floating LNG terminal in Alexandroupolis in the north of the country on Tuesday, which will supply gas not only to Greece itself but also to south-eastern Europe.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, EU Council President Charles Michel, Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and North Macedonia’s Prime Minister Dimitar Kovacevski attended the project opening. STERN PAID FAQ Gas delivery stop (takeover of Capital+) 20.00
Mitsotakis emphasized that the hub for importing liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the sea south of the port city of Alexandroupolis will be a new energy gateway for Greece, for the Balkans and for south-eastern Europe – “but also a beacon sending out a double signal”. The liquid gas from Russia could be quickly replaced by this and other ongoing projects. “Moscow’s recent blackmail makes this cooperation not only necessary, but also urgent,” said the Greek prime minister.
Greece: Supply of a good six billion cubic meters of natural gas annually
The almost 400 million euro project, in which Bulgaria is financially involved, is scheduled for completion in 2023. It should then be able to handle around 6.1 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually. The gas could be shipped from Algeria, Qatar, Egypt and the USA to Alexandroupolis and from there to Bulgaria and finally on to Serbia, Romania and North Macedonia.
Mitsotakis explained that Greece has already taken care of its own national energy supply and is ready to support neighboring countries like Bulgaria. Greece is already supplying its neighbor with gas after Russia stopped gas deliveries to Bulgaria, among others, last Wednesday.
“The project is a milestone for Europe’s energy,” said EU Council President Charles Michel. The floating platform reduces dependence on Russian natural gas. Michel assured that the EU will continue to fund such projects.
Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Kiril Petkov said: “The pressure that Moscow is exerting will not achieve anything.” Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said his country was very interested in gas supplies from there. North Macedonia’s Prime Minister Dimitar Kovacevski spoke of the construction of the terminal as a “historic moment”. Who votes for and who against the oil embargo 15.18
According to the Greek Prime Minister, the potential of LNG in Greece could triple by the end of 2023. In addition to the existing LNG terminal on the island of Revythousa near Athens, further LNG terminals are planned in Thrace, Thessaloniki, Volos and near Corinth.
Sources: Skai, Kathimerini, Gastrade, with dpa material
Source: Stern
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