“Full speed ahead” for further utilization of the Vertical Corridor for Natural Gas – through increased quantities of American LNG that will supply Central and Southeast Europe via Greece – is offered by the expansion of the existing long-term agreement of Atlantic – SEE LNG, the joint venture of AKTOR and DEPA Commercial with American Venture Global. The deal through which the quantities of LNG that the American company will supply to Atlantic SEE are doubled comes following Venture’s investment in capacity booking at the Alexandroupolis LNG import terminal (FSRU).
This very significant agreement, which aligns with plans to strengthen the Vertical Corridor capacity on the “main” route Greece – Bulgaria – Romania – Moldova – Ukraine, and activate the branch towards Slovakia and Hungary and extend to the Western Balkans (North Macedonia, Albania, Serbia), comes in the aftermath of the issuance of guarantee letters from Atlantic – SEE LNG. This marks the full activation of the 20-year agreement with Venture Global for LNG supply from 2030, which is now being further strengthened.
It highlights the continuously strengthening energy cooperation between Greece and the USA, for the benefit of the entire region, Alexandros Exarchou
LNG quantities supplied by Venture Global to double
With the additional quantities of American LNG that Atlantic – SEE LNG “locks in,” the path also opens for new agreements with offtakers from the Central and Southeast Europe region that are within the influence of the Vertical Corridor. As AKTOR Group and Atlantic – SEE LNG CEO Alexandros Exarchou had stated in his Bloomberg interview, just hours before the announcement, negotiations with Romania are expected to be completed by the end of summer. In this case, the total quantity that will have been committed will amount to 3.7 billion cubic meters annually. He had added that, provided binding agreements are concluded within the year with Bulgaria and Ukraine, Atlantic – SEE LNG will pursue new LNG supply contracts. The company is also examining the possibility of concluding LNG supply agreements with countries like Serbia, Croatia, and North Macedonia, with the entire planning gaining enhanced momentum. Specifically, as emerges from announcements by all involved parties, Venture Global and Atlantic – SEE LNG are proceeding with an extension of the existing Sales and Purchase Agreement (SPA) for the supply of American liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the American company for a twenty-year period, starting in 2030. In this context, Atlantic – SEE doubles its existing contract with Venture Global, from at least 0.5 million tons annually (MTPA) to 1 million tons annually (MTPA). This development significantly strengthens the company’s long-term supply strategy and contributes to creating a reliable and diversified supply framework for Southeast and Central European markets. It should be recalled that the original agreement between the two companies, signed during PTEC in November 2025 in Athens and hailed as the first long-term LNG supply contract in Southeast Europe, provided for the possibility of increasing committed quantities in the future, which is now being activated. Venture Global, moreover, links the expanded agreement to the investment it has made in regasification capacity at the Alexandroupolis FSRU, which today corresponds to approximately 25% of the terminal’s total capacity. It emphasizes that this infrastructure and the Vertical Corridor for transporting LNG from South to North will be of decisive importance for strengthening Central and Eastern Europe’s energy security, providing a new route for transporting affordable and reliable American natural gas to the region.
This extension of the long-term LNG agreement marks the transition from vision to implementation, Konstantinos Xifaras
Alexandros Exarchou: “Energy security and supply source diversification strengthened”
Regarding the agreement, AKTOR Group and Atlantic – SEE CEO Alexandros Exarchou stated: “The expansion of our commercial agreement with Venture Global reflects the ambition and strong foundations of our long-term strategic planning in the LNG sector, as well as the significant prospects created by the Vertical Corridor for strengthening energy security and diversifying supply sources in Central and Eastern Europe. At the same time, it highlights the continuously strengthening energy cooperation between Greece and the United States, for the benefit of the entire region. This agreement demonstrates the value of long-term partnerships and confirms the increasingly important role of transatlantic energy cooperation in strengthening energy security and market resilience in the broader region.”
Konstantinos Xifaras: “Greece becomes main gateway for American LNG”
For his part, Konstantinos Xifaras, chairman of Atlantic – SEE LNG Trade and CEO of DEPA Commercial, noted: “This extension of the long-term LNG agreement marks the transition from vision to implementation. By doubling the quantities secured through the agreement, we strengthen a reliable supply framework capable of meeting the region’s evolving energy needs. This agreement substantially contributes to supply source diversification and European energy system resilience through access to additional LNG quantities from the United States. At the same time, it confirms that Greece now has the infrastructure and strategic partnerships required to function as a main gateway for American LNG to Southeast and Central Europe, supporting their safe and stable supply in the coming years.”
Published in Moneypro of Parapolitika newspaper
