A $9 billion agreement for the sale of 1.5 billion cubic meters of American natural gas annually from the United States through Greece to Albania and Bosnia, starting in 2030, was announced today by Atlantic See, a joint venture between DEPA Commercial and the AKTOR Group, at a press conference attended by Greece’s Minister of Environment and Energy, Stavros Papastauros, and the U.S. Ambassador to Greece, Kimberly Guilfoyle.
The agreement includes a doubling of the gas volumes that Atlantic See will purchase from U.S.-based Venture Global starting in 2030 and for a period of 20 years — compared to the original contract signed in November — along with the sale of 1 billion cubic meters per year to Albania and 500 million cubic meters to Bosnia.
Alexandros Exarchos, CEO of ATLANTIC SEE LNG TRADE and Chairman and CEO of the AKTOR Group, emphasized that the agreement carries a national character, as it is supported by both the American and Greek governments. He also noted that finalization of gas supply agreements with other countries in the region — with which preliminary discussions have already taken place — will follow.
Papastauros: In a few years, Greece itself could become a natural gas producer
In his remarks, Minister of Environment and Energy Stavros Papastauros stressed that the vertical natural gas corridor for supplying regional countries with gas through Greece is an infrastructure that is here to stay and can significantly strengthen energy supply security across the region. “Greece plays a central role in the new energy architecture. New prospects are emerging — natural gas from Cyprus will be imported in liquefied form into the European market, and within a few years Greece itself could become a natural gas producer. In this architecture, the vertical corridor will play a decisive role,” he said.
Ambassador Guilfoyle highlighted that the agreement strengthens Greece-U.S. cooperation and goes beyond a purely commercial dimension, actively supporting energy security in practice. She added that it reinforces Greece’s role as an energy hub and is beneficial for both the United States and the countries of the region, which gain greater options, resilience, and energy security.
Konstantinos Xifaras, Chairman of ATLANTIC SEE LNG TRADE and CEO of DEPA Commercial, stated that Greece and the United States are contributing to shaping a secure, resilient, and diversified energy future for Europe. Access to reliable supply sources, he added, is not merely an economic matter, but also one of stability, resilience, and strategic autonomy. Greece has invested in infrastructure and interconnections that enable it to function as a gateway to Central and Eastern Europe.
