US ambassador lauds the role of Greece as energy hub

Speaking at an event of the Hellenic American Chamber of Commerce at Ecali Club, Mr. Pyatt said it was important that Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras embraced Greece as a European energy hub. In this respect, he said he was impressed by the very close alignment between the US and Europe energy strategies at this particular point, namely the role of Greece as a regional hub and the guarantee of greater energy security for the whole of Europe.

Emphasizing the geostrategic position of Greece, the US Ambassador pointed out that Greece is part of the Eastern Mediterranean basin that is transforming the European energy landscape and redefining regional relations as former enemies become partners and governments, headed by Greece, are building energy to act as a catalyst for co-operation and revitalization of diplomacy.

A special mention was made by Mr Pyatt to the Transit Pipeline (TAP) and the liquefied natural gas terminal in Revythousa, stressing that with these two projects alone the situation has changed spectacularly. In particular, he said the TAP pipeline is now 85% completed in Greece and noted that it is on track to begin deliveries in 2020.

He added that the TAP pipeline is the last leg of the southern gas corridor worth more than $ 40 billion, saying it is one of the most complex and important gas infrastructure projects in the world that has been backed by the United States, for many years.

Continuing on the same wavelength, he described Revythousa as a similar positive story and added that the terminal he visited last year when it was still possible to walk through the enormous new storage tank would be completed in the next few weeks.

Underlining the importance of these two energy projects, the US Ambassador said that both TAP and LNG terminals serve as a gas gateway in the wider Balkan region either through existing infrastructure that is not being fully utilized or through new projects.

At this point, Bulgaria's Energy Minister, T. Petkov, said that the construction of the Greece-Bulgaria interconnection line will start by the end of this year, which will further expand regional connections and strengthen economic links.

Summarizing the US position, Mr Pyatt sent the message that "the issue of energy remains a top priority for me as an ambassador for the US mission team in Greece and for the entire US government."