The management of ATLANTIC SEE LNG TRADE presented its strategy to expand operations into the markets of Southeast and Central Europe at the “Greece-US Alliance for Energy Security” event held in Athens. The company plans to leverage new opportunities created by the Vertical Corridor and the doubling of LNG volumes it has secured from Venture Global.
The event was addressed by Greece’s Minister of Environment and Energy, Stavros Papastavrou, and the United States Ambassador to Greece, Kimberly Guilfoyle. The keynote speakers were Konstantinos Xifaras, President of ATLANTIC SEE LNG TRADE and CEO of DEPA Commercial, and Alexandros Exarchou, CEO of ATLANTIC SEE LNG TRADE and President and CEO of the AKTOR Group.
New commercial agreements and regional market expansion
The company’s management announced that ATLANTIC SEE LNG TRADE will pursue short-term LNG supply and trading agreements before 2030, the year in which its already-secured long-term supply contracts come into effect.
Mr. Xifaras emphasized that Europe is entering a period of heightened challenges in securing natural gas supplies, as the continent moves away from Russian energy sources and pressure intensifies on international LNG markets. Within this environment, ATLANTIC SEE LNG TRADE intends to seize new commercial opportunities and strengthen its presence in regional markets.
At the same time, the company is in ongoing dialogue with countries along the Vertical Corridor to forge new partnerships. Mr. Exarchou noted that the Memoranda of Understanding signed with Ukraine, Bulgaria, and Romania are expected to be converted into binding agreements by the end of the year.
Doubling the Venture Global agreement: a milestone moment
Particular emphasis was placed on the recent expansion of ATLANTIC SEE LNG TRADE’s agreement with Venture Global, through which secured LNG volumes are doubled to 1 million tonnes per year for a period of 20 years.
The company’s management stressed that this achievement carries even greater significance given the intense international competition for securing long-term LNG volumes. It also highlighted that Greece, through its strategic energy infrastructure, has already demonstrated in practice its capacity to make a decisive contribution to regional energy security.
Supply security takes on a new dimension
Referring to the latest geopolitical developments, Mr. Xifaras pointed out that the war in the Middle East and the temporary disruption of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz served as a stark reminder that energy security can no longer be taken for granted.
He stressed that Greece represents a secure and reliable energy gateway for Europe, with Greek infrastructure offering the ability to receive and transit natural gas even during periods of heightened international uncertainty.
The management of ATLANTIC SEE LNG TRADE assessed that challenges in the European natural gas market will remain acute through the coming winter, making the securing of long-term and reliable supply sources all the more critical.
Expansion prospects and new partnerships
During the discussion, it was also noted that the US Development Finance Corporation (DFC) could potentially play a role in providing financial support for projects related to the Vertical Corridor, depending on the progress of commercial agreements and the required infrastructure developments.
Papastavrou: The Vertical Corridor is a strategic choice for Europe
Minister of Environment and Energy Stavros Papastavrou underlined that energy security is a matter of national and European sovereignty — not merely an economic metric. He referred to the Greek government’s initiatives to activate the Vertical Corridor and noted that new capacity auctioning rules will enable the creation of cross-border products and the extension of the corridor toward Hungary, Slovakia, and the Western Balkans. The Minister emphasized that Greece now plays a central role in the region’s new energy architecture and congratulated the management of Atlantic SEE LNG Trade for their perseverance in successfully overcoming the project’s considerable challenges.
Guilfoyle: “Energy security is being put into action”
United States Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle described the agreement with Venture Global as a landmark for transatlantic cooperation, stressing that it is not simply a business deal — it is energy security in action. She said the agreement is significant for Greece, as it further reinforces the country’s role as an energy hub. It is equally significant for the United States and for the whole of Central and Eastern Europe, as it provides more options, greater resilience, and stronger energy independence for the countries of the region.
A new energy architecture for Europe
The overarching conclusion of the event was that the deepening of transatlantic cooperation and the development of the Vertical Corridor are creating a new strategic reality for Europe. By leveraging its infrastructure, geographic position, and international partnerships, Greece is emerging as a key LNG entry point and a critical factor in ensuring the energy security and supply diversification of Southeast and Central Europe.
