33877 - Two International Licensing Rounds regarding the Ionian and Crete

E. Conophagos, N. Lygeros, A. Foskolos
Translated from Greek by Athina Kehagias

At last, we have finally moved on to the next stage of the utilization of the Greek EEZ, with the adoption of the Minister of Energy proposition by the G.C.E.P, ( government cabinet re: economic politics), regarding the hydrocarbon exploration and utilization both in the Ionian and in Crete.
With a delay, in relation to the first large Licensing Round, due to the ideological obsessions of some, the Minister managed to overcome the difficulties and to prove that he is functioning consciously towards the exploitation of these regions of the Greek EEZ.
Consequently, following the applications of the Total -ExxonMobil – HELPE, consortium, regarding the marine regions South-West, and West of Crete, as well as, Energean Oil & Gas in Western Greece, the new call for tenders is promoted.
The relevant decisions have been signed by the Minister of Energy.
Therefore, the Ministry of Energy is now formally inviting all interested parties to submit tenders within 90 days of the date of the publication of the Notice of Invitation to Tender, at the Official Journal of the European Union.
This in other words means, that we have the opening of the Second Licensing Round, which follows the procedures of the first one precisely, and which took place back in 2014, through the EU Journal as well.
Consequently, all those who had reproached this approach and had delayed it for ideological reasons, they ought to now, not only accept that it constitutes a correct approach, but to additionally continue its cource by following upon its given data.
This means that we are down and out with the absurdities of a political party which obtains no knowledge in the field, and we are initiating a dynamic which continues as per the first one, but without delays because the essence is one and only.
The EEZ is capable of bringing around the recovery only when it’s activated.