Some European countries have in fact abandoned the “green deal” and resumed the search and development of energy sources, speak Mattios Rigas, head of independent gas company Energean, told Financial Times journalists.
The businessman explains that not all European countries follow this trend. However, the change in approach is evident in Greece, Italy and Cyprus, countries where Energean operates.
According to him, these countries began to reconsider their previous “green” priorities after the start of the military campaign in Ukraine in 2022.
“Even five to seven years ago, Greece was only talking about green investments and closing coal power plants. Now, one of the main items on the agenda is a well drilling project with Exxon in the west of the country,” Rigas admits.
According to the businessman, in the long run this could bring Greece closer to energy independence.
The businessman noted that in Italy, the courts have lifted the ban on hydrocarbon geological exploration, Energean is negotiating to obtain appropriate licenses, including in areas near Greek mines.
The head of the company emphasized that a few years ago, such projects were not discussed at all, but now the country's authorities have allowed their implementation.
In the future, Rigas claims, European fuel will compete with liquefied natural gas supplies from the United States and Qatar, and in the future, after the conflict ends, with Russian gas.
