ALEXANDROUPOLIS – The role of Alexandroupolis as a regional energy player and a gate of security and collaboration in the region was the focus of US Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources Geoffrey Pyatt, speaking online at the 1st East Macedonia & Thrace Forum on Wednesday.

The Forum is taking place in Alexandroupolis on February 22-23, and is organized by Olympia Forum in collaboration with the city, Energizing Greece, and Hellas Journal.

Pyatt addressed the round-table discussion on “New energy corridors: Consequences of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine for Eastern Macedonia & Thrace”, which also included among others ambassadors and businessmen in the natural gas sector, while it was moderated by Open TV journalist Alexia Tassouli.

I was delighted to join the 1st East Macedonia & Thrace Forum to discuss Russia’s unjust war against Ukraine and its consequences on #energysecurity for the region. Learn more at https://t.co/qXxy1esTeZ

— Assistant Secretary Geoffrey Pyatt (@AsstSecENR) February 22, 2023

In terms of Greece’s developing role in the energy sector, Pyatt said, there is nothing more transformative than what is happening in the northeastern Greek city. He referred to the TransAdriatic Pipeline (TAP) and the speedy completion of the project through collaboration that occurred just as Russian leader Vladimir Putin started using Russian energy resources as a weapon. This allowed Europe to navigate through winter, while foiling Russia’s plans, he added.

The US State Department official also referred to the IGB interconnector with Bulgaria, which was a lifesaver for Bulgarians when Russia cut off natural gas exports; the natural gas connector with North Macedonia; and the role of green energy in diversifying resources in Europe. Diversification through Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), imported from the United States, served needs that arose after the Ukraine crisis, he said, adding that his country sent over 70 billion cubic meters of LNG to Europe, double the volume of the previous year, while a large volume of this arrived in Europe through Greece.

With Qatar, Pyatt said, the US will remain one of the two largest LNG expoerters in the coming years, and this will naturally be connected with the Floating Storage Regasification Unit (FSRU) in Alexandroupolis, which relates to the entire region’s supply and security.

(Link for the agenda: https://eastmacedoniathraceforum.gr/agenda-2023/)