Hellenic Petroleum

Greece opened expressions of interest on Friday for hiring consultants on utilizing the state shares in seven major companies, including utility Public Power Corporation and Athens International Airport.

Eight foreign oil and petrol companies have expressed interest in collaborating with Hellenic Petroleum Group, revealed the company’s general manager of exploration and production Yiannis Grigoriou, Wednesday. Total, Shell, Repsol, Japex, Dana Petroleum, INA and Hunt are in talks with ELPE to start hydrocarbon exploration in the areas of Arta-Preveza and the north-eastern Peloponnese.

The Greek Ministry of Environment and Energy approved the Strategic Environmental Impact Assessments for hydrocarbons research in two areas in Western Greece. This way the Parliament can now approve the activation of the contracts for Aitoloakarnania and Northwestern Peloponnese.

Greece on Wednesday approved a request by Italian energy major Enel to search for oil and natural gas in three onshore areas in the west of the country.

Other oil firms will now be invited to submit rival exploration offers for the same three blocks later this year, in line with Greece’s “open-door” hydrocarbons licensing rules.

The Aspropyrgos Refinery is set to receive natural gas supplies following a deal signed between its operator, Hellenic Petroleum, and the Hellenic Gas Transmission System Operator SA (DESFA) on Wednesday.

The project’s budget is estimated at 800,000 euros while the venture is expected to be completed by September.