Energy Ministry

The South Stream gas pipeline could have a ramification to the Crimean peninsula, Oleg Savelyev, Minister of Crimean Affairs, announced.

Soma’s 1st Criminal Court of First Instance has ordered a freeze to all properties, allowances and assets of Soma Holding, the operator of the coal mine in the western province of Manisa where 301 miners were killed on May 13.

By Chryssa Liaggou

The liberalization of the local retail market for natural gas is the main priority of the new administration at the Public Gas Corporation (DEPA), as the country’s creditors are expecting the Environment and Energy Ministry to submit the bill on the necessary changes next month.

Greece on Wednesday approved a request by Italian energy major Enel to search for oil and natural gas in three onshore areas in the west of the country.

Other oil firms will now be invited to submit rival exploration offers for the same three blocks later this year, in line with Greece’s “open-door” hydrocarbons licensing rules.

By Chryssa Liaggou

The energy sector was surprised at Enel’s eagerness to learn about Greece’s hydrocarbon surveys, as the bulk of the Italian firm’s activity is focused on the production, transmission and distribution of electrical energy from conventional and renewable sources.

By Chryssa Liaggou

Public Power Corporation is planning to tap the markets after Easter with the issue of a corporate bond to draw 500 million euros.

The Energy Ministry is also eagerly awaiting the issue, as it is hoping it will enable the full clearance of electricity market debts, which according to the bailout agreement is due by end-2014.

 Deal securing cheaper Russian natural gas for industries and households applies from July 2013 for 10 years

By Chryssa Liaggou

The Environment and Energy Ministry announced on Tuesday that Greece has secured a 15 percent discount on natural gas from Russian energy giant Gazprom for 10 years, adding that the measure will be retroactively applied from July 2013.