Greece found itself at the center of the international energy scene yesterday as Doug Bergkamp, the top U.S. official under the Trump administration, visited the country amid significant developments in the LNG sector.
His visit coincides with Chevron’s entry into the international hydrocarbon tender in the Peloponnese and Crete, a move interpreted by the Greek government as a vote of confidence, combining economic, political, and geopolitical significance.
Greece as a Strategic Energy Hub
With a strategy focused on Europe’s energy security, Greece is emerging as a critical transit hub for American LNG, while this partnership also signals international elevation and strong interdependence in the region.
Bergkamp’s presence at the Revithousa LNG terminal and his meeting with Greece’s energy elite – including Evangelos Mytilineos, Giorgos Stassis, Giorgos Peristeris, Andreas Siamisis, Christos Kopelouzos, Giorgos Triantafyllou, Kostas Xifaras, Alexandros Exarchou, Maria Rita Galli, and the CEO of DTEk – underlined that the American strategy involves not only governments but also major business stakeholders.
Strategic Meetings and Infrastructure
Greek Minister of Energy, Stavros Papastavrou, emphasized that energy security is national security, highlighting that 81% of Greece’s LNG imports now come from the U.S., and stressed the importance of long-term contracts to ensure stable prices across Southeastern Europe.
Bergkamp noted that strategic alliances are key to stability and reducing dependency on rivals, while he highlighted the Chevron-Helleniq Energy partnership, which could boost energy production and reduce reliance on Russian flows.
LNG: The Numbers Speak for Themselves
In August, LNG shipments unloaded at Revithousa reached 2.75 TWh, surpassing imports via Siderokastro. The trend in favor of American LNG is accelerating with the development of the Vertical Corridor and the FSRU Alexandroupolis, expected to cover much of the Russian gas flows that the EU aims to eliminate by 2027.
Greece strengthens its position as an energy hub for Southeastern Europe, with projections for 10 billion cubic meters of LNG annually via the Vertical Corridor, alongside future flows from Neptun Deep in Romania and Azerbaijan.
Message to Businesses
Bergkamp encouraged Greek companies to sign 10- to 20-year contracts with U.S. exporters, enhancing the competitiveness of the Vertical Corridor and ensuring a secure and smart energy future for the region.
“Through unity and strategic partnerships, energy can become a force for global stability,” he emphasized.
Source: pagenews.gr