Greece tries to improve its financial situation at expense of energy projects
By Aygun Badalova
Greece, which is currently experiencing a serious crisis, is trying
to find every opportunity to improve its financial situation, in
particular by using the energy projects that it participates in,
director of the Russian National Energy Institute Sergey Pravosudov
told Trend.
He said that Greece’s possible leaving the European Union will not
affect its obligations under signed agreements on energy projects.
However, in his view, Greece will try to initiate a review of these
agreements.
“Probably, they will initiate a review of these agreements, but I
don’t think it will be linked with Greece’s possible withdrawal
from the EU,” said Pravosudov.
On June 28, creditors refused to grant a deferring of payments on
the IMF loans to Greece and refused to renew the international
program of financial assistance to the country for the third time
without the agreement on the Greek reforms program.
This may result in withdrawal of Greece from the euro zone, which
will become a serious blow not only to the single European
currency, but also have a negative impact on the world economy as a
whole.
Earlier, Turkey stated that it is ready to render financial support
to Greece. Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said that
stability in Greece is important for Turkey.
“Turkey’s desire, in particular, is based on the energy projects,”
Pravosudov said. “These are the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) and
Turkish Stream. Both countries are participants there.”
"Turkey is turning into a very large gas transportation hub now,”
he said. “TAP and Turkish Stream are connected with Turkey and
eventually they reach Greece. Everything is somehow connected
here."
"Moreover, Turkey and Greece have many other partially resolved
issues," he added.
Greece is one of the countries through which TAP being implemented
as part of the Southern Gas Corridor will stretch. TAP is currently
the only project that will soon provide the EU countries with
alternative sources and a gas supply route.
Gas to be produced as part of the Stage 2 of development of
Azerbaijan’s Shah Deniz gas and condensate field is the initial
source for the project.
Greece has signed a number of both political and technical
agreements within this project. The governmental agreement between
Greece and the TAP consortium, as well as the intergovernmental
agreement on construction of TAP that was signed and then ratified
by Albania, Italy and Greece are among such documents. The country
will receive 1 billion cubic meters of gas per year within the
contracts signed with Azerbaijan.
Despite the remarks regarding the commitment to the implementation
of this project, the new government in Greece periodically hinted
that it would like to get more benefits from the gas transit
through the country’s territory.
Nevertheless, TAP consortium stated that Greek government fully
supports the TAP project and the project for construction of Greek
section of the pipeline (545 kilometers) is being implemented on
schedule.
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