Visit of K. Skreka with the Energy Commissioner at the LNG Station of Revythousa

The Minister of Environment and Energy, Costas Skrekas, and the EU Energy Commissioner, Kadri Simson, visited today, April 7, 2022, the liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal of DESFA in Revythousa.

During the visit, they were accompanied by the General Secretary of Energy and Mineral Raw Materials, Alexandra Sdoukou and the CEO of DESFA, Maria Rita Galli.

At the Revythousa facility, Mr. Skrekas presented the measures taken by Greece to support society from the effects of the international energy crisis, which is intensified by Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, as well as actions to diversify sources of supply and energy routes under the REPowerEU project to make Europe independent of Russian fossil fuel imports. The Greek Minister referred to the actions taken by the Government for the supply of our country with natural gas, in case of interruption of the supply from Russia. Among them is the expansion of the storage capacity of the Revythousa terminal by adding a floating tank to the three existing ones on the island.

This was followed by a tour of the Revythousa facilities by the CEO of DESFA, Maria Rita Galli, who briefed the Energy Commissioner on the importance of the terminal for the country’s energy security.

The Minister of Environment and Energy, Costas Skrekas, stated: “We welcomed the Commissioner for Energy at the DESFA facility in Revythousa. I informed Ms. Simson about the comprehensive plan of the Greek Government for the energy supply of our country in case of interruption According to our plan, DESFA has launched the upgrade of the storage capacity of the Revythousa terminal, while DEPA Commerce is closely monitoring the availability of LNG cargo in the international markets in order to procure additional cargo if necessary. for the completion of critical infrastructures that will strengthen the country’s energy security, such as the interconnected natural gas pipelines Greece – Bulgaria IGB and Greece – Northern Macedonia, the new liquefied natural gas terminals in Corinth and Alexandroupoli, but also the interconnected , The how Egypt. These projects will contribute to the transformation of our country into an important energy hub for the wider region of Southeastern Europe and to the independence from the imports of Russian fossil fuels. At the same time, we are accelerating investments in RES as the increase of green energy production will shield the country from imported crises and is the only realistic option for reducing costs on a stable basis for households and businesses. Finally, I emphasized to the Commissioner the firm position of the Greek Government that this unprecedented crisis can only be tackled by taking coordinated action at European level. This is the aim of the proposal of the Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, which addresses the cause of the crisis at its base, for the restoration of the smooth operation of European markets and the joint supply of natural gas by the member states. “We must act decisively and collectively to protect society, especially the most vulnerable households and small and medium-sized enterprises, which see their efforts being undermined and their budgets threatened by explosive price increases.”

European Union Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson said: “After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, EU energy policy faces a threefold challenge: to ensure safe, sustainable and affordable energy in the midst of an increasingly difficult situation. The Commission is working closely with the Member States to address these challenges and this week I am visiting Greece to discuss the best way forward.Greece, with its existing and planned infrastructure, is “It’s worth recognizing Greece’s efforts to ensure a fair transition, while making significant market reforms and accelerating the necessary investments.”

The Executive Director of DESFA, Maria Rita Galli, stated: “We had the honor to host today the European Commissioner for Energy, Kadri Simson, at the DESFA facility in Revythousa. In the midst of difficult circumstances, the role of DESFA and its infrastructure as a pillar of stability and enhancement of security of supply in Greece and the wider region of Southeastern Europe, in this direction, the addition of a floating storage tank (FSU) , in combination with the other infrastructures that are planned, will enhance the flexibility of the system, allowing the further diversification of the sources of supply and the strengthening of the security of supply of Greece and the wider region, all of which are in full agreement with the REPowerEU plan and the new European Union energy strategy “.