The role that Greece can play on the new energy map of Southeastern Europe, at a time of profound geopolitical and technological changes, was at the center of the event organized by DEPA Commercial in the context of the Thessaloniki International Fair, under the theme “Greece in the new energy landscape: Infrastructure, markets and prospects”.
With the participation of the political leadership of the Ministry of Environment and Energy, top market executives and members of the academic community, the discussion covered the entire energy chain: from international natural gas flows and LNG to power generation, RES and the retail electricity market.
The event was opened by the Minister of Environment and Energy Stavros Papastavrou, the Deputy Minister of Environment and Energy Nikos Tsafos, the Secretary General for Energy and Mineral Raw Materials Despoina Paliarouta and the CEO of DEPA Commercial Konstantinos Xifaras. The event and thematic discussions were moderated by journalist Nikos Filippidis.
The political leadership of the Ministry of Environment and Energy on DEPA’s role
In their remarks, the Minister, the Deputy Minister and the Secretary General referred in particular to DEPA Commercial’s contribution to the country’s energy security, to strengthening international energy interconnections and to expanding Greece’s role in the region.
Particular reference was made to the transformation the company has undergone in recent years and to the contribution of Konstantinos Xifaras’s management to DEPA’s evolution from a company focused mainly on natural gas supply into a modern, vertically integrated and outward-looking energy group, with activity in international supply and trading, infrastructure, power generation, Renewable Energy Sources and retail.
The political leadership of the Ministry of Environment and Energy also underlined the importance of the company’s investment and commercial initiatives for strengthening Greece’s position as a gateway for energy entry and transit to Southeastern and Central Europe.
K. Xifaras: Energy security is not crisis management but a long-term strategy
For his part, DEPA Commercial CEO Konstantinos Xifaras noted that today’s upheavals in the European market vindicate choices and investments made with a horizon of many years.
He made particular reference to the active role assumed by the current political leadership of the Ministry of Environment and Energy and the government as a whole, noting that Greece is not merely following international energy developments, but is contributing to the shaping of policies both at the European level and in the broader international environment. As he stressed, the country is building new bridges and strategic partnerships with the United States, Israel and other important international partners, while at the same time strengthening its geopolitical and energy position.
“Energy security is not built at the moment a crisis breaks out. It is built years earlier, with strategic planning, infrastructure, networks, diversified supply sources and long-term agreements”, he stressed.
He referred specifically to the Greece–Bulgaria Interconnector (IGB) and the Alexandroupolis FSRU, projects that strengthened the possibilities for diversifying supply sources and routes and upgraded the country’s position in the region’s energy flows.
As he pointed out, DEPA’s transformation continues. The company is now shaping a strong and diversified generation portfolio, which is approaching 1.5 GW in modern thermal power units, while at the same time targeting more than 1 GW in Renewable Energy Sources projects by the end of 2027.
At the same time, through ATLANTIC SEE LNG TRADE, DEPA Commercial is opening a new chapter in its international activities, creating the conditions for long-term LNG supplies after 2030 and for the next 20 years. This is a strategic move that links the security of supply of the Greek market with the emergence of the country as a broader energy hub for Southeastern Europe.
In this context, Mr. Xifaras underlined that such investment decisions often go beyond purely commercial criteria and constitute a matter of national responsibility, as no economy and no society can withstand the consequences of an interruption in energy supply.
He also placed particular emphasis on the human factor behind this course. He referred to the expertise and reliability of DEPA’s executives, noting that the company today possesses the market knowledge and data that allow it not only to make business decisions, but also to provide the State with a reliable and substantiated picture for critical energy choices.
LNG and Vertical Corridor: the new geography of energy flows
In the first thematic panel, focusing on the new natural gas energy corridors, the participants were Maria Rita Galli, CEO of AKTOR LNG, Pierros Hadjigiannis, CEO of ICGB, Gerasimos Avlonitis, Senior Director of Market & System Development at DESFA, and Christos Basdekis, Coordinating Director of Trading Activities at DEPA Commercial.
The discussion focused on the growing importance of LNG, the potential of the Vertical Corridor and the gradual rearrangement of natural gas flows in the region. The common conclusion was that the value of Greek infrastructure is no longer limited to covering domestic needs: it is directly linked to the security of supply of a much broader geographical zone.
The electricity market facing a new equation
In the panel on electricity, Pantelis Biskas, Professor at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Konstantinos Baslis, Energy Management Director at HERON, and Giannis Papamikrouleas, Director of Electricity Trading Activities at DEPA Commercial, discussed the major changes brought by the increasing penetration of RES.
At the center were the need for greater flexibility of the electricity system, the development of storage, the importance of modern power generation units and the new conditions created by the closer interconnection of regional markets.
Retail market: competition that must work for the consumer
The event concluded with the discussion on the retail electricity market, with the participation of Zaira Trivyza, Director of Regulatory Affairs & Energy Supply at NATURAL GAS Hellenic Energy Company, and Kostas Papamichail, Deputy General Manager of ESPEN.
The discussion highlighted the challenges faced by the supply market in an environment of intense fluctuations, increased requirements for suppliers and a constant need for greater transparency, effective competition and better products for the consumer.
From energy security to Greece’s new regional role
The thread that connected all the discussions of the event was common: the next day of energy cannot rely on fragmented solutions. It requires timely planning, adequate and interconnected infrastructure, diversified supply sources, generation capacity, functioning markets and stable international partnerships.
In this new reality, DEPA Commercial is systematically expanding its footprint. From natural gas and LNG to power generation, RES and retail, it is investing across the entire energy chain and strengthening its presence beyond Greek borders.
With a steady direction toward security of supply, competitiveness and the energy transition, the company aspires to be at the core of the new energy architecture taking shape in Greece and Southeastern Europe.