Nature groups go to court in Greece over a strategic gas terminal backed by the EU

Five Greek and international environmental campaign agencies have launched legal action against a major natural gas project supported by the European Union as a regional alternative to Russian energy.

Greenpeace and the World Wide Fund for Nature led the request at Greece's highest administrative court, the Council of State, against a planned offshore natural gas storage and conversion plant, outside the northeastern port of Alexandroupolis.

The action was filed on Tuesday, the groups said in a joint statement.

The terminal, due to go online early next year, will operate on a modified tanker — also named the "Alexandroupolis" — to store liquefied natural gas and convert it into gas form, supplying the national distribution network.

The 288-meter (945-foot) long vessel arrived at its destination on Sunday, following a 10-month-long conversion at the...