Three concession contracts signed for Greek hydrocarbon utilization

The government has sent a positive message to the global oil industry just days after ExxonMobil and Total officials visited Athens. Environment and Energy Minister Giorgos Stathakis on Thursday signed  concession agreements for the onshore blocks in Arta-Preveza and the northwestern Peloponnese with Hellenic Petroleum (ELPE), and in Aitoloacarnania with Energean Oil & Gas. These agreements had been pending since February 2016.

Stathakis announced that the government will soon also sign the concession contracts for the Ionian 2 offshore block with the Total-Edison-ELPE consortium and for the Ionian 10 block with ELPE.

He indirectly confirmed the interest of ExxonMobil and Total in Greek hydrocarbons: "We have also started a round of talks with international oil companies for other areas besides the Ionian Sea," he said.

He went on to announce that after the...