Greece’s Deputy Minister Tsafos Heads to London for Key Energy Security Meeting

An important energy security meeting is being organized in London by the International Energy Agency (IEA) over the coming days. The aim is to discuss lessons learned from the energy crises of recent years and outline appropriate policies moving forward. Scheduled for April 22-25, the conference will feature high-level EU representation through Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, and Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson. Additionally, ministers and officials from dozens of IEA member countries, including Turkey, the USA, the UK, Norway, and EU member states, will participate. Major energy companies like EDF, Equinor, Shell, Trafigura, Total, Vestas, and Enel will also be represented. Greece will be represented by Deputy Environment and Energy Minister Nikos Tsafos, who will present the government’s achievements and ambitious goals. Given his background in the natural gas sector, Tsafos is well-positioned to address these critical issues. Greece has made significant strides recently to ensure energy security not only for itself but also for the broader region of Southeast Europe. Infrastructure projects such as the Greece-Bulgaria IGB pipeline and the Alexandroupoli terminal have already supported countries like Bulgaria during challenging periods following the halt of Russian gas supplies. Moreover, Greece, in collaboration with other Balkan nations and with support from the US and EU, aims to bolster the Vertical Corridor, a chain of pipelines extending as far as Ukraine. However, concerns about the commercial viability of gas exports northward were raised at a recent Budapest meeting. High transit fees charged by countries like Romania pose a major obstacle that must be addressed to enable large-scale flows. Meanwhile, national gas network operators, including DESFA, discussed project progress and potential acceleration.