SIGNING CEREMONY FOR GREEK GAS EXPLORATION

Yesterday a ceremony took place at the Acropolis Museum involving the signing of four concession contracts between the Greek State and the Chevron–Hellenniq Energy consortium. The signing itself took place at the Maximos Mansion. At the ceremony the Hellenic Republic was represented by the Minister of Environment and Energy, Stavros Papastavrou, and the CEO of the Hellenic Hydrocarbons and Energy Resources Management Company (EDEIEP), Aristophanes Stefatos. On behalf of the concessionaires, the contracts were signed by Gavin Lewis, VP of Chevron and Andreas Siamisis, CEO of Hellenniq Energy. The concessions cover the areas 'South Peloponnese', 'A2' as well as the offshore blocks 'South of Crete I' and 'South of Crete II'. 

Feb. 15, 2026 Ministry Environment & Energy: Παρουσίαση των συμβάσεων μίσθωσης της ελληνικής Πολιτείας με την Chevron- Hellenniq Energy. (Signing ceremony at the Acropolis Museum between the Greek State and Chevron-Hellenniq Energy). 

03:55 Introdiction

06:18 Video presentation

11:00 Stavros Papastavrou, Minister of Environment & Energy

18:40 Kimberley Guilfoyle, US Ambassador to Greece

26:00 Aristophanis Stefatos, CEO of EDEIEP

38:00 Gavin Lewis, VP of Chevron

40:40 Andreas Siamisis, CEO of Hellenniq Energy

In a speech PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis stressed that with the involvement of the two largest US oil groups in Greece’s hydrocarbon sector, ExxonMobil and Chevron, and the country’s active participation in re-engineering natural gas flows through the Vertical Corridor (link), Greece is positioning itself as a strategic energy hub in the region.

The four areas cover a total of approximately 47,000 square kilometers. The first seismic surveys are scheduled to begin before the end of the year.

If promising targets emerge from the seismic data, the next step will be exploratory drilling, which is the decisive stage in confirming the existence and the size of a deposit.

In a speech US Ambassador Kimberley Guilfoyle emphasized the strong ties between American and Greek businesses, noting that Greece has created a business environment that rewards innovation and attracts investment, something that the US private sector also recognizes. 

In the presence of PM K. Mitsotakis, the lease agreements between 🇬🇷 and the Chevron – HELLENiQ ENERGY consortium were signed today, granting exclusive rights for the exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons in maritime areas to the south of the Peloponnese and Crete. https://t.co/Y3wuYvHubo

— Embassy of Greece in Washington D.C. (@GreeceInUSA) February 16, 2026

I was proud to join @PrimeMinisterGr Mitsotakis and @YpenGR Minister Papastavrou to support 🇺🇸 🇬🇷 energy cooperation at today’s historic signing ceremony between @Chevron, @HELLENiQENERGY and Herema. This landmark agreement will unleash untapped potential for hydrocarbon… pic.twitter.com/yJTv3UR0WG

— Ambassador Kimberly Guilfoyle (@USAmbassadorGR) February 16, 2026

Marinakis: Greece is becoming an energy hub for Europehttps://t.co/fo1j8kR5YS pic.twitter.com/f0Pb0keVzB

— ANA-MPA news (@amna_newseng) February 16, 2026

As far as I am able to tell early next week, another energy related meeting will take place in Washington DC between American and Greek delegations. 

- More on Greece, US, energy, natural gas, Kimberley Guilfoyle -