Responding to requests from abroad to address the serious gap in the comprehensive briefing of the British and global energy community on the Greek-Cypriot dip type and their combinatorial capabilities, ΗΑΕΕ, the Greek Think Tank for Energy Economics, as the Greek affiliate of the international think tank based in the US, ΙΑΕΕ, has used well-known representatives of the market, state, political and academic life, and presented, in London, Greek and Cypriot activities covering the full spectrum of the energy sector.
In this integrated approach to the energy developments in Greece and Cyprus, an event entitled “Energy Developments in S.E Europe: Riding the Global Trends”, was staged in London this week, on November 28.
The event was organized in collaboration with the postgraduate studies department at the London Research Center for Energy Management, headed by the President of HAEE, Dr. Kostas Andriosopoulos, who also coordinates the energy teaching of the other departments of the complex. The international network of energy agents in the eastern Mediterranean region is informed about developments in the ESCP network, which, apart from academic completeness, also has the advantage of being directly connected to the energy market.
Cyprus was represented by the candidate for the presidency in the forthcoming elections, Nikolas Papadopoulos, who has experienced the whole energy course of the island. The particular value of his contribution at the London conference lies in the fact that, as a candidate for President of Cyprus with a great chance of electoral success, he presented with realism what can and should be done on the island, with the possibilities and conditions prevailing today.
The energy future of Greece was presented by HHRM president Giannis Basias, who analyzed the data on the existence of hydrocarbons in the Greek offshore and land environment and underlined the positive prospects for their exact localization and exploitation, both for Greece and the foreign companies considering investments in the region.
The spectrum of investment, scientific, technical, bureaucratic and political factors concerning foreign energy investments in Greece was presented by TAP director Richard Skoufias.
The experienced manager of the complicated and demanding project concerning the construction of the Greek section of the Southern Corridor for the transportation of natural gas from the Caspian Sea and other sources to Europe underlined the fact that TAP has been accepted in practice by the Greek society and leaders at regional and central level, resulting in its smooth implementation.
TAP, Skoufias stressed, is a model of successful foreign investment in Greece as it has been a concern to cover the specificities of local communities.
The interest of foreign companies to invest in Greek energy was expressed by Melina Yosserand, spokesperson for the American shale gas exporting company Tellurian Inc., seeking participation in the development of the prospective LNG floating station in Alexandroupoli, northeastern Greece. This project promises to promote US gas up to Bulgaria and further north. The energy project in Alexandroupoli, which also involves DEPA, Greece’s public gas corporation, is an immediate goal for the US.
The plans of the international energy community for hydrocarbons in Greece and Cyprus were presented by the President of the International Gas Union Mel Ydreos. He underlined that the eastern Mediterranean region is mature for direct investment in research and exploitation of natural gas, while also noting that theoretical obstacles and objections experienced from time to time can be attributed to political considerations which should not interfere with the smooth functioning of the free market.
The Head of Energy Strategy and Planning, energy consultant Tasos Garis recapitulated the conclusions of the conference and added the important factor of electricity and alternative forms of energy, a prerequisite and need not only for the protection of the environment, but also rationalization in many aspects, including economic and energy support to the modern society.