Hellenic Petroleum

Greece's biggest oil refiner, Hellenic Petroleum, said on Monday it will finance and operate a 204 megawatt solar energy plant in northern Greece to tap into the country's shift from coal to renewables.

Greece's biggest oil refiner Hellenic Petroleum reported a 46 percent rise in second-quarter core profit Thursday as a combination of lower crude prices and rising fuel prices lifted its margins.

The company said it also benefited from a rebound in tourism, which pushed up demand for aviation fuel, and from strong demand for bunker fuel.

A 16-day strike announced by the PSEEP union, which represents workers at Hellenic Petroleum (ELPE), is expected to make it difficult for fuel to reach Greece's islands and other parts of the country.