The new government of Greece will support the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) for the transport of natural gas, but in a way that will maximize Greece’s benefits from the project, Energy Minister Panayiotis Lafazanis said on Tuesday.
The Greek minister met yesterday with the Ambassador of Azerbaijan in Athens Rahman Mustafayev and Socar Energy Greece CEO Anar Mammadov, according to a Kathimerini daily report.
Regarding gas network operator DESFA’s sale to Socar, Lafazanis said the government is still waiting for the European competition authorities’ verdict before it can determine its next moves.
On the issue of hydrocarbons, the energy minister confirmed there will be no intervention in tenders under way in the three land blocks in western Greece, for which the bids are due on Friday. However he announced that the framework for the 20 sea blocks will be revised, as the new government wants to redefine terms, thereby leaving open the possibility of an extension to the tenders.
According to the Kathimerini report, opposition New Democracy protested at the statements concerning a revision of the sea block tenders since the previous government had made some agreements. ND spokesman Costas Karagounis stated that “this decision practically leads to the cancellation of the tenders at a huge cost for the country, as it will harm Greece’s credibility.”
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