The cooperation between Moldova and Greece in the field of natural gas will allow a better utilization of underground gas deposits in Ukraine in order to strengthen the security of gas supply to Central Europe during the cold season. This is the conclusion of talks between Energy Minister Victor Parlicov and his Greek counterpart Kostas Skrekas.

Energy Minister Victor Parlicov is on a working visit to Greece on April 5-6, accompanied by the director of the state company Energocom, which signed a framework contract with the Greek gas operator DEPA in Athens. The Republic of Moldova could thus procure gas, taking advantage of favorable market conditions.

Greece is the main gateway for liquefied natural gas (LNG) to southern Europe, and more than half of this gas comes from the United States. Energocom is the first and so far the only company in the world with practical experience of using the "vertical corridor" Greece-Bulgaria-Romania-Romania-Moldova-Ukraine.

"The collaboration between Moldova and Greece will allow us to strengthen the role of underground gas deposits in Ukraine in providing Central Europe with natural gas during the cold season this year. Last season's Energocom experience with the use of the Greece-Bulgaria interconnector showed the feasibility of using the Trans-Balkan gas pipeline in reverse mode," said Energy Minister Victor Parlicov.

During the visit to Greece, the Moldovan delegation met with Deputy Foreign Minister in charge of economic diplomacy, Kostas Fragogiannis; the director of the Gastrade company, which manages the Alexandroupolis LNG terminal project, Kostas Sifnaios; and the director of the gas supply company DEPA, Kostas Xifaras.

Other topics discussed in Athens included Greece's experience with the energy transition, the decarbonization of the energy and transport system on the island of Astypalaia and the development of the renewable energy sector.