The agreements concern the granting of exclusive rights for the exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons in the offshore areas “Block A2,” “South of the Peloponnese,” “South of Crete 1,” and “South of Crete 2,” completing the relevant international tender process within a ten-month period.

The official signing of the lease agreements took place earlier at the Maximos Mansion, in the presence of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. As part of the process, the four agreements were signed separately by the contracting parties: the Ministry of Environment and Energy, the Hellenic Hydrocarbon Resources Management Company (EDEYEP), Chevron, and HELLENiQ ENERGY.

During the presentation, the Minister of Environment and Energy, Stavros Papastavrou, stated:
“The government of New Democracy, under Kyriakos Mitsotakis, consistently supports energy realism in Greece and Europe and follows the path of balanced, sustainable development of our country’s strategic advantages. That is why it has made significant investments in the energy sector: in infrastructure—quintupling resources compared to the previous decade—with natural gas pipelines, compression stations, and LNG terminals; in interconnections—expanding our networks domestically and internationally; in renewables—harnessing our abundant sun and wind; and in new technologies to accelerate and improve the transition to the digital era. As a result, after nearly 25 years, our country is evolving from a net importer of electricity into a significant exporter. Today, we inaugurate a new era of national confidence and determination. For the first time, we are exploring our subsea resources south of Crete, while also conducting exploration south of the Peloponnese—positioning Greece as a potential producer of natural gas for the benefit of our country, our citizens, and Europe, for present and future generations alike. By leveraging our geographic position and infrastructure, we strengthen our geopolitical standing and decisively exercise our sovereign rights.”

The U.S. Ambassador to Greece, Kimberly Guilfoyle, noted:
“Today’s signing marks another important step in establishing Greece as an energy hub and is a milestone in the enduring cooperation between the United States and Greece. Energy partnerships are about more than geology and economics—they are about building bridges between nations, creating prosperity for our peoples, and strengthening alliance bonds. Congratulations to all involved in achieving this milestone.”

Chevron’s Vice President for Global New Ventures, Gavin Lewis, said:
“We look forward to working with our partners, HELLENiQ ENERGY and the Hellenic Republic, to assess the hydrocarbon potential of these frontier areas. With our global expertise in oil and gas development, Chevron has the resources, experience, and technology to advance and unlock new energy sources in this first-exploration region.”

HELLENiQ ENERGY CEO Andreas Shiamishis stated:
“Today’s agreement is an important step toward harnessing Greece’s hydrocarbon potential at a time when energy security is more critical than ever. HELLENiQ ENERGY plays an active role in strengthening Greece’s position as a regional energy hub. Our cooperation with Chevron—one of the world’s leading energy companies—enhances the consortium’s technical expertise and operational capabilities as we move forward with exploration, with a firm commitment to environmental protection and support for local communities.”

Finally, EDEYEP CEO Aristophanes Stefatos said:
“We are proud to complete today the international tender for the concession of new areas, part of the national strategic plan for developing Greece’s hydrocarbon sector. The process was carried out swiftly, responsibly, and successfully. This exemplary execution would not have been possible without the continuous support of the Ministry of Environment and Energy and Minister Papastavrou personally. We also thank the EDEYEP Evaluation Committee for its outstanding work. We are pleased that the Chevron–HELLENiQ ENERGY consortium is undertaking these areas, as their experience and expertise will contribute to the success of the effort. Their forthcoming surveys will add a further 46,189 square kilometers for exploration, maximizing the chances of discovering exploitable deposits.”

Among those attending the ceremony were the Speaker of the Hellenic Parliament Nikita Kaklamanis, Development Minister Panagiotis Theodorikakos, deputy ministers, secretaries-general, former ministers, MPs, and representatives of supervised bodies and the private sector.