The upcoming intergovernmental transatlantic energy cooperation meeting, known as the Partnership for Transatlantic Energy Cooperation (P-TEC), is expected to provide a significant boost to Greece and strengthen its role as a key energy supply hub for Southeast Europe.
The high-level session is scheduled to take place on Thursday and Friday in Athens. The event will feature a strong US delegation, including four US government officials, energy ministers from various European countries, and senior executives from multinational energy companies.
High-level attendance
In comments to the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (AΠE), Minister of Environment and Energy, Stavros Papastavrou, noted that “Global interest in energy issues will be focused on our country next week.”
Key attendees from the US government will include:
- Doug Burgum, US Secretary of the Interior and head of the National Energy Sovereignty Council.
- Chris Wright, US Secretary of Energy.
- Michael Rigas, Under Secretary of State for Management and Resources.
- Jacob Helberg, US Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment.
Other high-ranking officials from the Trump administration are also expected to attend.
The conference will also host Energy Ministers from 25 countries across both sides of the Atlantic, along with over 400 senior executives from major American and European corporations, including Chevron, ExxonMobil, Cheniere, and Google.
Greece’s strategic importance and focus on energy
Minister Papastavrou emphasized the potential impact of the conference: “This meeting, and the significant energy agreements we are optimistic will be announced, will further enhance our country’s position in the international energy and geostrategic landscape.”
He highlighted that following Chevron’s involvement in hydrocarbon exploration in four Greek maritime areas, energy is becoming a major lever for upgrading Greece’s regional role as a principal co-shaper of the area’s energy map.
The meeting is organized by the US Department of Energy, the Greek Ministry of Environment and Energy, and the Atlantic Council Global Energy Center. Topics for discussion will include energy security, competitiveness, infrastructure projects, and investment opportunities in the region.
The expanding role of Greece in European energy
The timing of the Athens session is crucial, as it coincides with a potential opportunity for Greece to solidify its energy, economic, and geopolitical standing.
A key factor is the anticipated EU ban on Russian natural gas imports by the end of 2027. This measure would create a major supply gap, a significant portion of which Greece can cover through its existing LNG infrastructure at Revithoussa and Alexandroupolis.
A recent milestone was the successful joint auction for reserving the capacity to export natural gas from Greece to Ukraine via the region’s pipeline system.
This initiative, welcomed by Ukraine’s Naftogaz, underscores the growing importance of Greek LNG terminals for diversifying gas flows into Central and Eastern Europe.
Related: Greece Emerges as Strategic Gateway for US LNG as Europe Phases Out Russian Gas
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