The Greek Parliament on Thursday ratified four concessions allowing the exploratory drilling and extraction of hydrocarbons in regions of the Ionian Sea as well as the waters west of Crete.
Lawmakers approved the legislation for the ratification of the agreement with the following entities:
– Hellenic Petroleum SA for the concession of exploration and production rights in Block 10 of the Ionian Sea (with 180 votes in favor, 25 against, and 75 abstentions)
– Repsol Exploracion SA and Hellenic Petroleum SA for offshore drilling in the “Ionio” region of Western Greece (with 181 votes in favor, 27 against, and 74 abstentions)
– Total E&P Greece B.V., ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Greece (Crete) B.V. and Hellenic Petroleum SA for offshore exploratory drilling and production rights in the “Southwest Crete” sea region of Greece ( with 172 votes in favor, 36 against and 74 abstentions)
– Total E&P Greece B.V., ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Greece (Crete) B.V. and Hellenic Petroleum SA for offshore exploratory drilling and production rights in the “West of Crete” sea region of Greece (with 172 votes in favor, 36 against and 74 abstentions).
The concession contracts were signed by the previous SYRIZA government and brought before Parliament without any changes made by the current government.
SYRIZA nevertheless abstained during the vote on the ratification of the contracts, and four individual SYRIZA MPs voted against them.
Source: AMNA