New ambassador: US keen to expand energy ties with Greece

Kimberly Guilfoyle said that the United States was eager to strengthen energy ties with Greece, and to see it become a major energy gateway into Europe.

Greece is stepping up its purchases of U.S. LNG and has built a second terminal to become a major transit point for U.S. gas imported into Europe. New sanctions against Moscow over its war in Ukraine will force European states to stop using Russian gas by 2027.

Energy and Interior Secretaries Chris Wright and Doug Burgum from the United States, as well as senior executives from major U.S. companies and energy ministers of central Europe are expected to attend a U.S. led conference in Athens to discuss infrastructure investment and energy security. Guilfoyle stated that the so-called Vertical Corridor, a gas transport scheme supported by Greece, Ukraine Moldova, Slovakia Bulgaria Romania and Hungary, would provide energy security. The plan is to increase the flow of LNG imported from Greek terminals up north into central Europe, Ukraine and Slovakia via the underused Transbalkan Pipeline.

After a July trade agreement, the U.S. has the opportunity to sell more gas in Europe. Europe committed to buying $250 billion worth of U.S. energy annually over the next three year period. This includes oil, natural gas liquefied and nuclear technology.

(source: Reuters)