Why Greece Is Betting Big on American Gas - THE NEW YORK TIMES

May 31, 2024
Max Bearak

When a withering financial crisis forced Greece to rethink its economy a decade ago, it bet big on green power​. Since then, Greece’s energy transition has been so swift “it almost feels utopian​,”​ one Greek environmentalist said.

​Mountainous ridgelines and arid islands ​are covered in wind turbines and solar panels​ that ​today provide nearly two-thirds of the nation’s electricity.​​​

But ​now Greece​ is deliberately pivoting back toward fossil fuels, just not to burn at home. This time it’s betting that it can become one of Europe’s main suppliers of natural gas, with much of it shipped from the United States.

Both Greek and European Union subsidies have funded new pipelines that crisscross the country and connect to a brand-new import terminal that will send gas to a broad swath of Central and Eastern Europe for decades to come.

Europe warns Turkey against natural gas mission near Greece - DW

24.07.2020

European officials on Thursday warned Turkey against pursuing a survey mission looking for gas reserves near Greek islands in the eastern Mediterranean.

Greece and Cyprus have accused Turkey of undermining their sovereignty by continuing to pursue energy resources within their territorial waters.

"The government is underlining to all parties that Greece will not accept a violation of its sovereignty and will do whatever is necessary to defend its sovereign rights," said Greek government spokesman Stelios Petsas.

French President Emmanuel Macron has called for sanctions against Turkey, saying it is "not acceptable for the maritime space of a European Union member state to be violated or threatened."

Last year, the EU adopted a sanctions regime targeting Turkey over its unauthorized gas drilling in Cypriot waters.

Ambassador Pyatt’s Remarks at AmCham East Med Act and 3+1 in Age of COVID-19 - US EMBASSY GREECE

June 2, 2020

Delivered (virtual roundtable)

Thanks Katerina. Well, let me start first of all by congratulating both the Atlantic Council and AmCham for this event, and in the same way as Ben said, the Atlantic Council has made a big bet on Greece, the United States has made a big bet on the 3+1 framework as a means to build stability and prosperity in a strategically dynamic region. We can see the challenge of great power rivalry returning to the region, even during this Coronavirus period.

I would just say a couple of quick points. Minister Hatzidakis spoke well to the benefits to Greece from this trilateral cooperation. For the United States, first of all, I should highlight that energy has been one of the real bright spots of our bilateral relationship for a few years now. We see Greece emerging as a major source of energy security across southeastern Europe with a whole variety of projects from the expanded Revithoussa terminal to the TAP pipeline to the IGB pipeline now moving ahead to the Floating Regassification Unit in Alexandroupoli.

Pyatt at Thessaloniki Summit: “Energy Collaboration the Brightest Aspect of Greece-U.S. Relations” - THE NATIONAL HERALD

November 14, 2019

THESSALONIKI- US Ambassador to Greece Geoffrey Pyatt spoke of ”the collaboration on energy is one of the brightest aspects of the relationship between Greece and the US,” while addressing the Thessaloniki Summit 2019 on Thursday, which he is attending for a third time.

Pyatt underlined that US presence in northern Greece is much more apparent compared to previous years, as “we have made the city of Alexandroupolis our strategic focus,” and he referred to the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), the Gas Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria (IGB) and the Floating Storage Regasification Unit (FSRU) of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) as the three elements that make the northern Greek city so significant.

He especially praised TAP’s potential for “changing Europe’s energy map and bringing non-Russian gas to European customers.”

Ambassador Pyatt’s Remarks at ELIAMEP - U.S. EMBASSY IN ATHENS

September 16, 2019

Ambassador Pyatt: I will try to mirror my Cyprus counterpart and be brief so we have time for discussion.

Let me start by commending Thanos, ELIAMEP and Claudia and DEREE for putting this event together. This is a really important set of issues and I’m delighted to be able to have this prestigious audience, to have Ambassador Theodorou here, and also to have my new Israeli counterpart whom I look forward very much to working with in the months and years ahead.

I would also note, we’re meeting at a particularly busy time for the American Embassy in Greece. We had Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross here two weeks ago for a visit that highlighted the United States’ enthusiasm for the changes that are happening under the new Greek government and the investment and economic opportunities, the green light which we see in the decisions that are coming from Prime Minister Mitsotakis and his team.

Ambassador Pyatt’s Remarks at the 2nd Energy Union Leaders Academy Aikaterini Laskaridis Foundation - US EMBASSY ATHENS GREECE

Aikaterini Laskaridis Foundation

Panorama City Hall

April 12, 2019, 16:00

Let me start this short address by thanking the Greek Energy Forum and the American College of Thessaloniki for organizing this “Energy Union Future Leaders” Academy, bringing together young leaders from 18 countries to discuss the opportunities and challenges in the vitally important energy sector. I can’t think of a better location for this event than Thessaloniki, exactly at the moment that northern Greece is reestablishing its role as the commercial and energy hub of the Balkans. I’m also especially glad that this is happening on the campus of Anatolia College, which is really one of the hidden gems of the U.S. legacy of support in northern Greece, and I’m delighted to be on the campus on such a beautiful day.

Two of the Academy’s main objectives are the promotion of energy diversification and energy security, which happen to mirror priorities of the United States government. And I think the energy security of our European partners and allies has been a longstanding priority for the United States, but it’s only over the past few years, that Greece has become a real leader in these efforts. I know that the Greek Minister of Energy, Minister Stathakis, heard this message very clearly from our Secretary of State and our Secretary of Energy when he was in Houston last month, and Secretary Pompeo repeated a similar message when he recently participated in the first 3+1 summit meeting in Jerusalem with Prime Ministers Netanyahu, Anastasiadis, and Tsipras.

Greece’s DEPA to Begin Selling Natural Gas to Bulgaria - GREEK REPORTER

Apr 3, 2019Tasos Kokkinidis

Greek energy provider DEPA on Tuesday became the first Western company to strike a deal with Bulgaria’s state-owned Bulgargaz to provide natural gas to the country.

This is the first time Bulgaria has ever bought gas from another provider outside its long-term contract with Russia’s Gazprom. Currently, more than 95 percent of the Balkan country’s gas needs are met by supplies from Gazprom, and the product is delivered through a pipeline which crosses Ukraine, Moldova and Romania.

Bulgargaz will complete the purchase of 1.5 million megawatt hours of fuel from DEPA in the second quarter, pumping the gas into its Chiren underground storage facility, the company said on Tuesday.

Bulgargaz said DEPA had offered the lowest price in a tender in which the state provider also received offers from Bulgaria’s Dexia Company and the Dutch-registered Kolmar NL.

The deal was hailed by the United States Ambassador to Athens Geoffrey Pyatt, who tweeted that the development was “another welcome example of Greece’s growing role as a facilitator of European energy diversification.”

Pyatt: Greece key to Europe’s energy diversification - KATHIMERINI

2 March 2019 : 15:51

“Greece has clearly emerged as a key European hub for energy diversification,” US Ambassador to Athens Geoffrey Pyatt said in an interview with the Athens-Macedonian News Agency on the sidelines of the Delphi Economic Forum on Saturday.

Pyatt said that the US will continue to work on all its energy partnerships in the country, including the LNG terminal on Revithoussa island, the Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria (IGB) and ExxonMobil’s exploration with Hellenic Petroleum (ELPE) off southern Crete. He also welcomed ExxonMobil’s discovery of what is seen as the biggest natural gas find off the coast of Cyprus.

Asked about the US-Greece Strategic Dialogue launched in Washington in December, Pyatt said it was “deepening and institutionalizing our alliance with Greece.” He said that the two sides have established working groups dealing with investments, homeland security and defense issues.

“All of this intends to keep the progress moving forward,” he said, adding he expects another round of meetings by the end of 2019.

The American ambassador was upbeat about the economic benefits of the name deal signed between Athens and Skopje, saying that the “Prespes agreement is going to unlock all of the opportunities for Greece to deepen trade, investment and economic relations with all of its northern neighbors.”

“We are really seeing Thessaloniki recapturing its role as the capital of the Balkans, Greek companies are already some of the largest investors in Skopje... and new projects are happening on energy, electricity,” Pyatt said.

Wess Mitchell sends clear message to Turkey over Cyprus - KATHIMERINI

21.12.2018 : 16:00

VASSILIS NEDOS

US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Wess Mitchell sent a clear message to Ankara not to obstruct drilling for hydrocarbons that is under way in Cyprus’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ), while hailing Greece as a “fantastic ally” to the United States in the region, in an exclusive interview with Kathimerini’s Sunday edition.

Mitchell said Turkey's view on Cyprus's EEZ is “a minority of one versus the rest of the world,” as international law stipulates that the island nation can use its resources in an equitable way.

Speaking to Kathimerini a day after the inaugural session of the US-Greece Strategic Dialogue in Washington, he said the US regards Greece, Cyprus and Israel as natural allies in the Eastern Mediterranean and described Greece as a “one of the most military capable allies.”

As for the contentious Prespes name deal between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Mitchell said Washington supports the accord, noting that its enforcement could increase Greece’s economically dominant role in the Balkans.

New Alliance Emerges in Eastern Mediterranean to Reshape Regional Security Landscape - STRATEGIC CULTURE FOUNDATION

07.SEPT.2018

PETER KORZUN

The military-political landscape in Europe and the Mediterranean is changing. NATO is not as unified as it once was, and Turkey’s membership has become more of a formality than a real thing. A pro-US group consisting of Great Britain, Poland, and the Baltic States has emerged as part of a North Atlantic Alliance that is divided by differences and the open rift over the 2% financial contribution, a decree that is largely ignored, along with the other divisions that are weakening the bloc. Other groups are arising that also have common security interests. A new pact, an Arab NATO allied with the United States, will soon materialize in the Middle East. Changes are coming, but they are hard to predict as everything is currently in a state of flux.

“The United States is interested in increasing its use of military bases and ports in Greece,” said General Joseph Dunford, the Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS), on Sept. 4 during his visit to Athens. “If you look at geography, and you look at current operations in Libya, and you look at current operations in Syria, you look at potential other operations in the eastern Mediterranean, the geography of Greece and the opportunities here are pretty significant,” he added. According to the Military Times, “[N]o specific bases have been identified, but that Supreme Allied Commander Europe Army Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti is evaluating several options for increased US flight training, port calls to do forward-based ship repairs and additional multilateral exercises.” US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross came to Greece right after the CJCS’s visit to take part in the annual Thessaloniki International Trade Fair.

Pyatt welcomes steps on Greek-Bulgarian gas pipeline - ANA-MPA / CAPITAL

Monday, 2 July 2018 - 18:50

US Ambassador Geoffrey Pyatt welcomed agreements that were signed last week regarding the construction of a natural gas pipeline between Greece and Bulgaria.

"An important and welcome development as we seek to enhance diversity of supply and routes in the European gas market. Also complements the Planned Alexandroupoli floating LNG storage and regasification unit," he said in a tweet.

Last week several agreements were signed in Sofia regarding the construction of the IGB gas pipeline linking the two countries.

A cooperation agreement was signed between IGB and TAP for connectivity of the two gas pipelines, while, a joint declaration was also signed between the shareholders in the project company for confirming a commitment to start its construction.

Additionally, a Memorandum of Understanding between the Bulgarian Energy Holding (BEH) and the European Investment Bank (EIB) was signed regarding the realization of the IGB project. The memorandum concerns securing preferential loan financing in connection with using the state guarantee of Bulgaria (expected 110 million euros) and is a key step in IGB’s realization.

US backing Greece's energy agenda, Ambassador Pyatt says - KATHIMERINI

04.MAY.2018 : 13:18

The US will be a reliable supplier and ally for Greece as it deregulates its energy market, US Ambassador in Athens Geoffrey Pyatt said on Thursday, adding that Greece is a very important partner in Washington's energy agenda.

Speaking at an energy conference, the US ambassador stressed that energy security makes countries less vulnerable to external pressure. He accused Russia of using the “weapon” of the interrupting energy supply 55 times in the past, as a tool for establishing its policies. In this context, Pyatt said the US opposed the North and South Stream pipelines, stressing that they are another tool in the hands of Moscow.

The ambassador stressed that importing liquefied gas from the United States could play an important role in diversifying supplies to Greece and Europe and recalled Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras's statement during his visit to the United States and his meeting with President Trump that Greece will become the third US gas importer in Europe. He pointed out that the US supports Greece's emerging role as an energy hub and has described our country as a pillar of stability and a strong partner of the West in a difficult environment.

The acquisition of the gas grid operator's DESFA's shares is a significant investment with a vision, that will show the way for other investors to follow, said Italian Ambassador Efisio Luigi Marras. He pointed out that one of the reasons for illegal immigration, an issue of concern for both Italy and Greece, is a lack of energy that increases the pressure on the European borders.

National Bank is willing to spend 2.0 billion euros on energy investments over the next five years, said Chief Executive Officer Leonidas Fragiadakis.

Athens Energy Forum: 'There is more natural gas' in the East Med - IBNA

16-02-2018, 09:37

Nefeli Tzanetakou

Energy is the reason why U.S. ambassador to Greece, Geoffrey R. Pyatt, went to Ankara yesterday, Thursday, said Steven Bitner, an economist at the US Embassy in Athens, speaking at the Athens Energy Forum conference.

The latest developments in the Eastern Mediterranean region due to Ankara's choices have been a cause for concern.

The goal, as agreed by all participants at the Athens Energy Forum, as gas demand will increase steadily in the coming years, is transnational co-operation so that all involved sides make the most of the energy game in progress in the Eastern Mediterranean.

However, the remaining "thorns" are the Cyprus issue, the war in Syria, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Washington is eager to see US exporters succeed in marketing LNG from the United States - NEW EUROPE

NOVEMBER 10, 2017, 19:59
Kostis Geropoulos

PIRAEUS, Greece – Greece’s position as an energy hub that can help the European Union increase its energy security and diversification of supplies, reducing reliance on Russia were highlighted by Commission Vice President for Energy Union Maroš Šefčovič and US Ambassador to Athens Geoffrey Pyatt.

At the Greek Energy Forum at Greece’s biggest port on November 10, the US Ambassador emphasised “the enduring and critically important partnership between the United States in working to advance our shared goals of European energy security”.

“Over the past few years, the United States has made it a priority to work with our European partners and with Greece in particular to develop secure supplies of energy in this region through diversification of energy sources,” Pyatt said.

Total, Edison sign lease for oil and gas exploration off Greece - REUTERS

OCTOBER 31, 2017 / 5:46 PM 

Karolina Tagaris, Editing by Susan Fenton

ATHENS (Reuters) - A consortium led by France’s Total moved a step closer to exploring for oil and gas off Greece after signing a lease on Tuesday with the government for a block in the Ionian Sea.

US envoy hails EU-backed Balkan, East Med regional diversification projects, slams Russia’s Nord Stream-2 - NEW EUROPE

MAY 19, 2017 21:12 
Kostis Geropoulos

ATHENS – Several key energy projects currently underway in Greece will bring significant quantities of non-Russian gas to Greece, Italy, Bulgaria, and other regional partners, lessening the bloc’s reliance on Gazprom, US Ambassador to Greece Geoffrey Pyatt told a conference in Athens.

He was referring to the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), the Greece-Bulgaria Interconnector (IGB), and the expansion of the liquefied natural gas terminal (LNG) Revithoussa. “While the volumes involved are not enough to satisfy European gas demand, the introduction of new pipeline gas improves the market dynamic, encouraging competition, which will benefit everyone,” Pyatt said in remarks at Hellenic Association for Energy Economics (HAEE) Conference.

U.S. sees Greece as new energy hub of Europe - ABC.AZ

Obama's Greece visit in 2016

28.04.2017 17:35

Baku, Fineko/abc.az. The U.S. sees Greece as a key country for gas supplies to the EU, and this was officially announced yesterday within the Istanbul Summit of the Atlantic Council.

So, the U.S. Ambassador in Athens Geoffrey Pyatt stated that there’s a real potential for Greece to emerge as a significant European energy hub if the opportunities that are present now can be locked in.

“This would be an important driver of investment, going forward, and would help to answer the question that Greeks are asking, which is what drives their economy going forward as they begin to come out of this seven year crisis period and lay the foundation for sustainable growth,” the ambassador said.

US backs Greece’s efforts to build EU energy connections

MARCH 3, 2017, 18:42
Kostis Geropoulos

DELPHI, Greece – The United States strongly supports Greece’s efforts to build its energy connections with Europe, US Ambassador to Athens Geoffrey Pyatt told the Delphi Economic Forum on March 3.

“Projects like TAP (the Trans Adriatic Pipeline), the Bulgaria-Greece-Interconnector (IGB), Revythousa (LNG terminal) and the proposed FSRU (Floating Storage Regasification Unit) near Alexandroupolis all help cement Greece’s critical role in transforming the energy security in southeast Europe and will help drive economic growth in the years ahead,” Pyatt said.

Newly found reserves in the East Mediterranean could also help boost Europe’s energy security. A solution to the Cyprus issue could facilitate the export of hydrocarbons from the East Med, German Marshall Fund Vice President Ian Lesser told New Europe on the sidelines of the Delphi forum.

TAP gas pipeline can gauge customer interest in capacity: executives - REUTERS

Wed Feb 1, 2017 | 11:26am EST

Reporting by Angeliki Koutantou and Karolina Tagaris. Editing by Jane Merriman

The Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) that will take gas from Azerbaijan to Europe is in a position to offer capacity on the line via so-called "open seasons" to gauge interest among potential customers, senior TAP executives said on Wednesday.

The 870-km (540-mile) pipeline will link Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz II field with Italy, crossing through Georgia, Turkey, Greece, Albania and the Adriatic Sea. It is the largest attempt so far to bring new supply sources to European consumers.

Around 10 billion cubic meters (bcm) per year of Azeri gas should reach Europe by 2020 through TAP as well as the South Caucasus Pipeline through Georgia and the Trans-Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) through Turkey.

"We have prepared the ground for 200 kilometers out of a total of 550 kilometers that the Greek section will run," Rikard Scoufias, TAP's country manager for Greece, said on the sidelines of an energy forum in Athens. "We are on track."

TAP can offer capacity via "open seasons" in line with European legislation, its commercial and external affairs director Ulrike Andres said.

Florida Congressional Representatives Push Cypriot Energy Exploration - SUNSHINE STATE NEWS

Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Gus Bilirakis

By KEVIN DERBY, September 19, 2016 - 6:00am

With energy exploration and offshore drilling becoming an increasingly important part of the economy of Cyprus, two Florida Republicans are pushing for increased American ties with that Mediterranean nation.

Cyprus has found promising results in exploring the [Aphrodite] gas field in the eastern Mediterranean. So has Israel. From her perch as chairwoman of the U.S. House Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee, U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., teamed up with U.S. Rep. Randy Weber, R-Texas, the chair of the U.S House Science, Space, & Technology Committee, earlier this month on a hearing on “Eastern Mediterranean Energy: Challenges and Opportunities for U.S. Regional Priorities.”

Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., noted that she joined Weber, U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., and U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-NY, in visiting Israel and Cyprus back in June.