Alexandros Exarchou: A New LNG Model Without Subsidies but with Massive Investments

The Vertical Corridor, long-term LNG agreements, and Greece’s rise as a new European energy hub

A new energy model without public subsidies

At the Delphi Economic Forum, the Chairman and CEO of AKTOR Group and CEO of Atlantic SEE LNG Trade, Alexandros Exarchou, presented a new investment-driven approach to Europe’s LNG market.

His central argument was clear:

energy development does not necessarily require state subsidies, but rather long-term commercial contracts and large-scale private investment.

“Flows from long-term LNG agreements can finance new infrastructure without state subsidies,” he emphasized.

Investment-driven growth and a new market logic

Exarchou outlined a structural shift in Europe’s energy paradigm: moving away from subsidy-dependent models toward self-sustaining investment frameworks based on contractual stability.

In this context, long-term LNG agreements become essential because they:

• reduce investment risk
• ensure price predictability
• enable infrastructure financing at scale

According to him, this approach is more resilient and better suited to a volatile global energy environment.

 The Vertical Corridor as a strategic infrastructure axis

A key focus of his intervention was the Vertical Corridor, a major regional energy project with the potential to reshape Southeast Europe’s energy map.

Exarchou stressed that Greece holds a unique geopolitical advantage:

“The country has a historic opportunity to become an international energy hub.”

Its geographical position allows it to serve as a transit gateway for LNG flows toward Central and Eastern Europe, strengthening regional energy security and diversification away from single-source dependency.

 Greece as an emerging energy powerhouse

The message was particularly optimistic regarding Greece’s strategic role in the evolving European energy system.

Exarchou argued that the country is entering a rare window of opportunity:

“Greece has the potential to become a pillar of geopolitical and energy stability.”

However, he also stressed that this opportunity is time-sensitive and requires decisive action to fully materialize.

 Next-generation infrastructure: FSRUs and expansion capacity

A critical component of this vision is infrastructure expansion.

He highlighted the need for:

• a second FSRU in Greece
• potential development of a third floating terminal
• stronger cross-border energy interconnections

According to Exarchou, Atlantic SEE LNG Trade is actively working on securing commercial flows and agreements that would enable such investments to proceed on a purely market-driven basis.

 Europe’s structural weakness: the absence of a unified voice

Beyond infrastructure, Exarchou addressed a deeper systemic issue in the European Union: fragmentation.

“Europe does not speak with one voice — and this is its biggest strategic weakness,” he stated.

He noted that the EU remains a unique global experiment with a common currency but without fully integrated energy, foreign, or defense policies—limiting its global competitiveness against the United States and China.

A market-led energy transformation with geopolitical weight

Exarchou’s vision outlines a clear direction for Europe’s energy future:

a transition away from subsidies toward private capital, long-term contracts, and strategic infrastructure investment.

At the center of this transformation is Greece, positioned as a potential critical hub in Europe’s LNG supply architecture.

If realized, this model could significantly strengthen both regional energy security and Greece’s geopolitical role—turning geography into long-term strategic advantage.

Source: pagenews.gr