The Production Reconstruction, Environment and Energy Ministry appears determined to proceed to the next stage of a tender offering three onshore blocks in western Greece for exploration and exploitation, despite the new leftist Syriza coalition government’s pre-election rumblings over tender procedures.

An appraisal committee, to be announced soon, has already been assembled, according to energy sources, to assess offers submitted by two Greek companies, ELPE (Hellenic Petroleum) and Energean Oil & Gas.

Besides financial and technical details, environmental factors will also be seriously taken into account, the ministry has noted.

ELPE and Energean submitted their offers on the tender deadline’s final day, on February 6. Both companies have made respective bids for a block in the Arta-Preveza area. ELPE also bid for a block in northwest Peloponnese, while Energean placed a second bid for a block in Etoloakarnania.

If the offers submitted by the two companies meet technical and financial requirements, the companies will be called to place further competitive bids, if needed. Appraisals for all three blocks are expected to be completed within three months. The ministry will prepare separate contracts for each block.