Hydrocarbon exploration in Greece and energy security in the wider Eastern Mediterranean region were discussed, among other things, during the meeting of Environment and Energy Minister, Stavros Papastavrou, with the member of the US House of Representatives and Vice Chairman of the Energy Subcommittee, Randy Weber.
In a relevant post on social media, Papastavrou stated the following:
"I had the pleasure of meeting the member of Congress and the Republican Party from Texas, Vice Chairman of the Energy Subcommittee, Congressman Randy Weber.
We spoke about the international developments that affect the energy market, but also about the strategic depth of Greek-American relations.
I thank him for the constructive discussion and I am waiting for him in Greece to continue it!
According to sources from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, the discussion focused on five pillars:
1. Hydrocarbon exploration in Greece, specifically in the marine areas south of the Peloponnese and Crete, which have similar geological characteristics to parts of the Mediterranean where significant deposits have been discovered.
2. Energy security and diversification from Russian natural gas. The role of Greece as a channel for supplying the region and Ukraine was highlighted, utilizing the liquefied natural gas infrastructure, which is also used by American companies.
3. Trilateral Cooperation - Greece, Cyprus, Israel with the United States in energy.
4. Legislative initiatives in the US Congress for the Eastern Mediterranean: Specifically, the Eastern Mediterranean Energy and Security Partnership Enhancement Act bill was discussed, which strengthens cooperation with the United States.
5. Network development and green transition, promoting cooperation for investments in renewable energy and hydrogen infrastructure.