Greece and Qatar are in the process of negotiations for the development of natural gas projects in the Astakos Naval Industrial Zone (NAVIPE). Minister of State Haris Pamboukis spoke with Qatar Deputy Prime Minister and Energy and Industry Minister Abdullah bin Hamad Al Attiyah on the materialisation of a substantial investment in the Astakos industrial zone, as a follow-up to a visit to Qatar by Greece's Deputy Foreign Minister Spyros Kouvelis.

The officials agreed on the two governments' mutual support in view of the commencement of the licencing process for the project, which will be overseen by Environment, Energy and Climate Change Minister Tina Birbili. The collaboration will offer substantial economic and developmental benefit for Greece while Qatar, a major producer of liquefied natural gas (LNG) world-wide, will secure a significant gateway in an EU country.

The investment concerns the installation of an LNG terminal as well as a natgas-powered electricity production unit, with the parallel application of state-of-the-art technology in the collection and utilisation of the combustion gases for biomass production. The materialisation of the investment will be of major importance to ensuring Greece's energy sufficiency through the creation of a significant energy hub in the country, with the parallel advancement of new "green" technology. ( ANA MPA) Invest in Greece; Balkans.com