A series of meetings and discussions on energy policy in the Eastern Mediterranean organized in Washington the Hellenic American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham Greece) on the occasion of the Ministerial Energy Meeting Figure 3+1 held in the United States.
According to AmCham Greece's announcement, discussions highlighted the growing role of Greece and Cyprus as regional energy nodes, as well as the possibilities for linking Eastern Mediterranean energy resources with European markets, at a time when energy security and diversification of supply sources remain central issues for the region and Europe.
AmCham Greece, in collaboration with the Atlantic Council think tank, organized the first Eastern Mediterranean Energy Business Forum, with the participation of AmCham Cyprus. The initiative took place within the framework of the Atlantic Council's Global Energy Forum and aimed to integrate the perspective of the Greek business community into the energy policy discussions of the 3+1 scheme.
Who participated?
Government officials, business executives and energy policy experts participated in the forum. Present were Greece's Environment and Energy Minister Stavros Papastavrou, Cyprus Energy Minister Michael Damianos, representatives from Israel, as well as business executives from the United States and the region.
The energy mission hosted by AmCham Greece's office in Washington was attended by the president of the Chamber of John Sarakakis, the executive director of AmCham Greece's office in Washington Katerina Sokou and the chairman of the Energy Committee Kostas Andriopoulos. Senior executives of members of the Chamber, including the Greek energy and industrial groups Metlen, Viohalco and Kopeluzos, also participated.
The discussions also involved executives from companies such as ExxonMobil, Chevron, Cheniere, EQT, Excellent and Baker Hughes. The debate was coordinated by distinguished Atlantic Council partner and former US ambassador to Greece Jeffrey Pyatt, while East Mediterranean Secretary General Gas Forum Osama Mombarez set the framework for energy security and cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean.
The executives of Greek and American companies presented their strategies to supply the region, develop new energy resources and participate in regional interconnection projects. Financing and commercial sustainability issues were also discussed.
According to AmCham Greece, participants stressed the possibility to reach more Eastern Mediterranean energy resources in European markets, especially in light of current geopolitical instability and the gradual abolition of Russian oil by the end of 2027.
As the executive director of the AmCham Greece office in Washington Katerina Sokou said, "it was a great pleasure to work with the Atlantic Council to convene the Eastern Mediterranean Business Energy Forum and highlight the role of our members as a stability bridge in the Eastern Mediterranean and as a driving force that turns Greece into a regional energy hub.".
As part of the mission, participants also had contacts with US Energy Minister Chris Wright, the special envoy for the Global Energy Unification Joshua Volz, Greece's Environment and Energy Minister Stavros Papastavrou and Greece's Ambassador to the United States Antonis Alexandridis.
The mission also visited U.S. headquarters. Chamber of Commerce, where he was informed by senior vice president of the Global Energy Institute Christopher Guith of the latest developments in the United States' energy policy and energy market.
The programme also included online meetings, discussions on energy policy and private business contacts, adapted to the interests and demands of staff involved in the mission. Among them was dinner, in collaboration with the LNG Allies, on the construction of long-term American LNG supply relations in Europe.
During contacts, experts were cited in the United States' efforts to speed up energy infrastructure development, including infrastructure to export American LNG, and simplify regulatory procedures, so that energy supply responds to increasing demand from emerging technologies and energy-intensive industries.
Finally, the importance of energy security and efficiency for the development of the technological sector and the exploitation of the economic benefits associated with artificial intelligence was highlighted.
RES-APA