The Minister of Environment and Energy, Mr. Stavros Papastavrou, in an interview with Open.
“We are in a very critical period. I think it is confirmed in the most categorical way that energy is much more than an economic quantity. It is a component of national security and power for every country. It is essentially linked to the future of every country,” Papastavrou said, adding that this confirms in the most obvious way the policy of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in the hydrocarbons sector.
The Minister of Environment and Energy referred to the contacts he had in the United States with the leadership of Chevron and ExxonMobil on the hydrocarbon development sector. He stressed that the ExxonMobil-Energean-HelleniQ Energy consortium has already entered into a preliminary agreement between the operating company Energean and Stena Drilling for the lease of the drilling vessel, which is expected to drill the exploratory well in Q1 2027 in the NW Ionian Sea. “In April, the final signatures for the drilling rig, the Stena Drill Max, will be signed,” Papastavrou stressed, adding that surveys for the basic environmental study have already started. “We are stepping on the gas. That’s the message,” he said.
Asked about the developments in the Middle East and its impact, he said “everyone is looking for diversified sources of supply and diversified mix. Anyone who has put all his eggs in one basket is now struggling,” stressing that our country has significantly increased renewable energy sources and this is an extremely important “buffer”
Referring to energy costs and the measures taken by the Government, Papastavrou said: “The fiscal surplus that we have allows us – on balance – to be able to give these breathers to the Greek citizen with the measures announced,” he added: “One thing is clear: that what was followed in the previous crises is a comprehensive effort by the government to ensure that no one is left behind, that social cohesion is not disturbed. This is what will be done now.” And he clarified that, if necessary, there would be other measures within a prudent budgetary framework.
Papastavrou also said that controls on the fuel market have “multiplied” and expressed the hope that in the coming weeks there will be a de-escalation that will return us to normality. Asked about energy storage, he predicted that 2026 would see “significant progress” on this issue and that “it is a commitment to move forward.”
“Storage has two very important parameters. First, it helps immensely with system stability. And, secondly, it allows at the same time to use cheap energy when energy becomes expensive,” he concluded
