New tenders for oil research in 15 regions

The invitation for new tenders for hydrocarbon exploration in 15 onshore regions of the country in the next six months was announced today by Minister for the Environment, Energy and Climate Change, Y. Maniatis.

He stated that Greece will not leave an inch of national territory unexplored. Furthermore, he gave assurances that there is no reference in the new loan agreement of potential oil deposits in the country. He reiterated his proposal that the revenue from the utilization not be made available for the service of consumer needs of the public sector, but instead form a fund for insurance organizations.

Speaking today at a launch ceremony for his book “Energy and Mineral Wealth, National Development Pillars”, Mr. Maniatis stated that in the next six months the Ministry will invite tenders for 15 plots which had been granted for surveys in the past. The tender to attract companies that will conduct seismic surveys in areas of the Ionian and the south of Crete is already running and will be published in the Government Gazette, as well as the European Journal of Competitions for the areas of the Gulf of Patras, Ioannina and Katakolo, which had also been explored in the past, but to not avail.

As for the seismic surveys, the Deputy Minister expressed his optimism that there will be considerable interest. Tenders for the Ionian and Cretan regions will follow at the end of 2012 and the start of 2013 if there is interest from the international markets.

In relation to the three regions for which there is already a competition under way, Mr. Maniatis was optimistic that there is interest expressed by dozens of foreign embassies.

When asked about the prospect of research in the Aegean sea and Kastelorizo,  the Deputy Minister mentioned that it would be unwise if the government proceeded to speak of contested zones, adding that no company would want to invest where the landscape is unclear.

He noted, however that “Greece will not leave any national territory unexplored. All this shall be done under the guidance of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.