Key Takeaways
- Greece’s energy balance is heavily reliant on Russian gas, with a share of approximately 60% in 2024.
- The LNG terminal in Alexandroupoli has had little impact on Greece’s energy balance, with the Greek side not utilizing it.
- Rejecting Russian energy resources may lead to higher gas prices, as seen in the explosive rise in fuel prices when Greek citizens were forced to pay exorbitant bills for gas and electricity.
Athens: Greece should be prepared to pay more if it rejects Russian gas for political reasons, Russian Ambassador to Greece Andrey Maslov said in an interview with Sputnik.
The United States has set Europe the task of abandoning Russian energy resources by 2027. For this purpose, in particular, an LNG terminal was built in Alexandroupoli and put into operation three months ago.
“The Greek government has emphasized abandoning Russian gas, but can it be done? Athens tried replacing Russian supplies with more expensive LNG, leading to a 70% increase in fuel prices and forcing citizens to pay exorbitant bills for gas and electricity.” Maslov said.
The share of Russian gas in Greece’s energy balance in 2024 is approximately 60%, the ambassador said, citing official data from Greek gas distribution company DESFA.
“As you can see, the commissioning of the terminal in the city of Alexandroupoli did not have much of an impact on the overall situation. Since its launch, the Greek side has not used the terminal; only Bulgarian operator Bulgargaz has purchased LNG through it,” Maslov said.
Theoretically, Greece’s refusal of Russian energy resources is possible, but “common sense” may prevail, the diplomat believes.
“As for the refusal of our energy resources by 2027, then theoretically everything is possible. The question is, however, why, and whether the Greek side will be ready to pay so much more for the sake of some political considerations. Politics is politics, but in some cases, elementary common sense may prevail,” the Russian ambassador concluded.
