Tackling Energy Challenges

North Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean, an asymmetric energy reality for Europe

Today, the European Union's Mediterranean supply is based on three major south-north axes. These three corridors now form the backbone of the European Mediterranean gas system (published in Naftemporiki, February 1st, 2026).

What brought US LNG and Russian gas prices together

American LNG and Russian pipeline gas now cost almost the same because the global gas market shifted sharply after 2022. Two previously different cost systems converged, not due to cheaper LNG or pricier Russian gas, but because overall market conditions changed (published in Defence Point, January 31, 2026).

Heavy oil and Venezuela's new role - Copy

The industrial power that once made Venezuela indispensable has been eroded during decades of underinvestment, political turmoil, and institutional disintegration (published in Naftemporiki, January 13, 2026).

A Critical Turning Point for Underground CO₂ Storage Development in the European Union - Copy

The slow rollout of CO₂ storage capacity of Europe, especially when compared with the United States, has become a defining strategic concern for the Net Zero Industry Act (NZIA) (published in Modern Diplomacy, January 11, 2026).

Heavy Oil and Venezuela’s Shifting Role

Venezuela’s place in global energy history is far more substantial than today’s production figures suggest (published in Modern Diplomacy, January 12, 2026).

When Physics Meets Politics: The 2026 Global Energy Inflection Point

In 2026, the illusion of a “seamless transition” has collapsed. Power‑system highways now crash into a wall of hardware scarcity, demanding a multi‑trillion‑dollar overhaul of the very infrastructure we thought could simply adapt (published in Modern Diplomacy, January 8, 2026).

A Pivotal Moment for Advancing Underground CO₂ Storage Projects in the EU

In recent years, the EU has introduced regulations to support CO₂ capture, transport and storage. Oil companies argue the targets are technically unrealistic, as such large infrastructures cannot be built and made operational so quickly (published in Energia.gr, January 8, 2026).

Who is really supplying Europe with gas

Milder recent winters have lowered Europe’s heating needs. Post‑2022 energy‑saving measures are now embedded in industry and households, and partial deindustrialisation has further reduced demand in ways that will be hard to reverse (published in Kontra Journal, January 4, 2026).

2025: The Energy Transition at the Crossroads of Reality

The energy transition is not a clean break with the past, but a complex reinvention of existing systems, unfolding within an environment of geopolitical tension and physical constraints. (published in Energia.gr, December 29, 2025).

Dependence and data centers

Documento newspaper asked Y. Bassias to explain the triangular relationship between artificial intelligence, LNG with the United States and Europe, and Greece (published in Documento, December 27, 2025).

How Europe Kept the Lights On: The Gas Suppliers of 2025

The backbone of Western Europe’s gas supply continues to be Norway. Alongside this steady pillar, the United States has emerged as Europe’s leading LNG supplier. Completing this trio of core suppliers is Qatar (published in Modern Diplomacy, December 25, 2025).

Who covers gas needs from Norway to the Balkans

Europe entered 2025 with a high level of energy security: gas storage exceeded 70% in January, while aggregate demand remains about 15% lower than in the pre-crisis period (Published in Naftemporiki, December 23, 2025).

Energy Transition Tango in SE Europe: LNG vs. Green Power

The looming LNG oversupply from the US and Qatar collides with the EU’s drive for a Green Transition, a clash that threatens rational policymaking and highlights the urgent need for genuine energy autonomy. (Published in Naftemporiki, December 10, 2025)

Au-delà des mégawatts : l’eau, colonne vertébrale cachée de l’IA et des infrastructures énergétiques

À l’heure où l’IA et les infrastructures numériques s’imposent, l’eau redevient centrale. En Europe du Sud, la rareté hydrique met en tension les ambitions énergétiques et digitales : la souveraineté technologique se heurte aux écosystèmes. (Publié le 8 décembre dans UP Magazine)

L’Europe face au dilemme du GNL : la Grèce pivot, l’Europe centrale en défiance

À l’occasion des accords signés entre la Grèce et les États-Unis lors du TEC-P (Transatlantic Economic Partnership) en novembre, cet article analyse le rôle pivot d’Athènes dans l’approvisionnement en gaz naturel des Balkans et de l’Europe de l’Est, ainsi que les tensions croissantes autour du gaz naturel liquéfié (GNL). (Publié le 1er décembre dans UP Magazine)

Europe on the digital map: Data centers, energy and water

The close alliance between the US government and the US tech giants has formed a common front limiting Europe's ability to claim an autonomous role in the digital economy, in line with its own principles and values (published on November 14,2025).

Energy updates

Interview in ATHENS MACEDONIA NEWS AGENCY with Sotiris Kyriakides (November 27, 2025).

Greece at the Energy Crossroads: The Cost of Imports and Exports

Today, new battle lines are being drawn on the global energy map. At the forefront stand artificial intelligence data centers, electricity producers, and exporters of liquefied natural gas. Yet at the heart of it all remains natural gas (Published in Nea Kriti on November 21, 2025).

We lack a strategy for our natural resources

In a discussion broadcast on FM radio Nea Kriti 98.4, the global axes of the energy question are examined, including the emerging confrontation between the United States and China over energy for data centers, as well as Europe’s position within these evolving energy dynamics (Published in Defence‑Point on November 20, 2025).

LNG: Not just to have but to exploit it

For Europe, dependence on LNG is now structural, as it replaces Russian gas flows through pipelines. Europe's energy strategy is no longer determined by who has the most gas reserves, but by who can exploit them (published on November 17, 2025).

National Αgreements

Interview in ATHENS MACEDONIA NEWS AGENCY with Sotiris Kyriakides (November 12, 2025).

Take Your Time

Interview in VOICE OF GREECE with Prokopis Aggelopoulos - ERT (November 13, 2025).

The King Natural Gas

To maintain 70% of the world's share of AI, the United States will need an additional approximately 50 GW of electrical capacity by 2028. This is an energy requirement equivalent to 40-50 new nuclear reactors (published in Kontra Journal, November 9, 2025).

Greece is a Νew Εnergy Ηub-Historic Αgreements

On November 7, 2025, the ACTION 24 TV program “The Next Day” hosted by journalist Serafeim Kotrotsos, broadcast an in-depth interview analyzing the recent LNG agreements shaping the Southeastern Mediterranean and Balkan energy landscape.

Drilling in the Ionian Sea, energy autonomy, geopolitical status and attracting investments

On November 7, 2025, the Naftemporiki TV program “Momentum ,” hosted by journalist Maggie Dousi, aired an in-depth interview exploring the strategic opportunities unlocked by Exxon’s involvement in hydrocarbon exploration in the Ionian Sea.

From Artificial Intelligence to the geopolitics of natural gas

AI data centers are emerging as energy giants, with demands that surpass the capabilities of traditional infrastructure. AI is not just technology, it is the new industrial revolution. And like any revolution, it requires a lot of energy.y (published on November 5,2025).

Beyond Megawatts: Water as the Hidden Backbone of AI and Energy Infrastructure

The exponential rise in electricity demand, driven by AI infrastructure and high-performance computing, has introduced new stressors. Water is a critical yet often overlooked dimension of the energy transition (published October 28, 2025).

The fever of small modular reactors and the silent dependence on water

The coupling of SMRs and data centers is not merely a technical or energy-related choice; it is a strategic decision with profound implications for water resources, geographic distribution, and national security (published on October 21,2025).

From the Eastern Mediterranean to North Africa—Drifting Ever Westward

Algeria, Egypt, Libya and Morocco are redefining their energy strategies to balance rising domestic demand with ambitious export goals (published on October 1, 2025).

The Transition of European Carbon-Dependent Regions to Nuclear Technology: Can Greece Seize the Opportunity?"

Across Europe, regions that rely on lignite for energy are seeking alternative solutions for the future and Western Macedonia is no exception. Now is the moment to turn this challenge into an opportunity (published on September 30, 2025).

New Drilling Activities in Greece

Interview with Sotiris Kyriakides of the Athens News Agency - Macedonian News Agency (September 15, 2025)

Greece does not have the luxury of wasting time. The Eastern Mediterranean will not wait.

The region is undergoing rapid geopolitical and energy realignments, with neighboring states accelerating their infrastructure, alliances, and export strategies (published on September 14, 2025).

What does the offer from Chevron and Helleniq Energy mean

On September 12, 2025, the Naftemporiki TV program “On Politics,” hosted by journalist Filippos Filippakopoulos, aired an in-depth interview exploring the strategic opportunities unlocked by Chevron’s involvement in hydrocarbon exploration within Greece’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

Greece's geostrategic role in the energy sector is strengthened

On September 11, 2025, the ACTION 24 TV program “The Next Day” hosted by journalist Serafeim Kotrotsos, broadcast an in-depth interview on the potential and the time schedule of the hydrocarbon research projects south of Crete and the Eastern Mediterranean.

From EuroAsia to Great Sea Interconnector: The Transformation of a Cypriot Vision

The prolonged delay of the EuroAsia Interconnector project, renamed GSI, has economic, geopolitical, and communication dimensions. The project is important, but its implementation is not as transparent as it is presented (published on September 10, 2025).

From the Southeast to the Western Mediterranean – Greece's geostrategic extension

A geopolitical energy shift is underway in the Southeastern Mediterranean, where recoverable natural gas reserves range from 3,500 to 4,500 Bcm. This is only half of the estimated reserves. Further west, the deposits in Crete and the Ionian Sea can bolster Greece’s role as an energy producer, beyond its traditional function as a transit hub (published August 18, 2025).

Greece Extends Its Energy Corridor Influence Across the Mediterranean

The Eastern Mediterranean is rapidly evolving into a key energy hub for the 21st century. Crete and the Ionian Sea, due to their strategic location and promising geological indicators, have the potential to become complementary energy corridors linking North Africa with Europe (published August 15, 2025).

Strait of Hormuz: What an Iranian "blockade" will mean for shipping, energy and the economy

On June 24, 2025, the Naftemporiki TV program "On Politics", featuring journalist Filippos Filippakopoulos, presented an in-depth interview that explored the potential ramifications of a suspected Iranian “blockade” on global shipping, energy markets, and economic stability.

Electric Power: From Miracle to the Riddle of Overproduction

In the early days of electricity in everyday life, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, electricity was seen as a symbol of progress but also as a threat. Greece, like many other countries, faces today a new energy paradox: an excess of renewable production it cannot fully utilize (published August 4, 2025).

Europe, Africa, and Asia on the Road to Electrification

Beyond Europe’s borders, Africa and Asia are advancing at distinct paces, embracing electrification strategies shaped by their specific contexts and priorities. This reflects not only technological shifts but also the broader evolution of their societies.

The Paradox of Energy Networks: Stability and Risk

Energy interconnectivity is a double-edged sword—while it enhances global stability and cooperation, it also exposes critical infrastructure to significant risks, from technical failures to geopolitical vulnerabilities.

When Sea Corridors Trap the Supply Chain

Although oil prices may stabilize over time following initial spikes, the cumulative impact of sustained risk and uncertainty continues to weigh heavily on global economic performance.

Energy shifts lead Chevron to Greece

Chevron's interest in Kyparissiakos was driven by three key factors: the U.S. presidential inauguration, new sanctions imposed on Russian hydrocarbon exports, and the drone attack on Turkstream's facilities in Russia.

Greece’s Role in Europe–Africa Connectivity

Greece plays a pivotal role in the evolving energy and infrastructure corridor between Africa and Europe. This article was initially published in Defense Point on June 21, 2025 and reproduced by energia.gr

Energy Competitions in the Mediterranean

Western Eurasia Energy Interconnectivity: East-West The Role of the Mediterranean Sea - by Yannis Bassias - Presented 12 June 2025 - Hellenic Institute of Strategic Studies (ELISME)

The Charm of Large Energy Projects

Recent experience shows that producing and using electricity close to its point of generation, as well as storing gases near their emission sites, forms a cornerstone for cost reduction and the success of such investments.

Nuclear Energy Returns to the Global Stage — What It Means for Europe and Greece

As countries face the urgent need to support growing electricity demand, secure energy supplies, and cut carbon emissions, nuclear power is being re-evaluated as a key part of the energy mix. Perhaps, Greece’s shipping industry will benefit from this nuclear comeback and the SMR propulsion.

What Spain's blackout teaches-The reliability of energy grids and geopolitical strategies

The EU's current energy interconnections cannot guarantee security of supply unless they are backed up by robust thermal generators capable of preventing incidents similar το that of the Iberia peninsula.

Carbon Capture and Storage - Economic Challenges and Infrastructure

The ambitious projects have an irresistible charm, attracting governments, engineers and industries that see them as opportunities for radical changes in energy transport and industrial greenhouse gases capture.

Arctic Energy: Alliances and Realignments

Major oil companies are interested in developing rapid gas extraction activities, including in the Arctic Circle, with the aim of meeting the projected needs of energy for artificial intelligence and data centers.

Electrical Malfunctions in Iberia

The April 28 blackout highlighted the critical need for a reliable electricity supply, as key functions such as telecommunications, banking and transport were disrupted.

Ministry of Environment and Energy visits Chevron and ExxonMobil in Houston

Finally, the Ministry of Environment is visiting the companies Chevron and ExxonMobil in Houston, said the former CEO of the Hellenic Hydrocarbon Management Company.

Shifting Sands: Geopolitics, Tariffs, and Europe's Energy Defense

The slowdown in economic growth, the shift of industrial production to Asia, and the acceleration of technological advancements are fostering new opportunities but also disrupting established economic systems.

Tracing the Challenges of the Energy Transition

In 2024, Yannis Kampouris and I authored an article examining the challenges that electricity grids would face in the future. At the time, we could not have anticipated how quickly these issues would become a reality in Southern Europe.

The hidden cost of unchecked renewable growth

The phenomenon of negative electricity prices has become a reality across Europe, and due to the rapid expansion of photovoltaic systems without adequate storage capacity, it is now emerging in Greece as well.

Energy, the new European dilemma: The MAGA problems and the Russian... Whispers

The trade war launched by Donald Trump against the European Union has ushered in a new cycle of geoeconomic uncertainty alongside an old energy dilemma for Europe: Should it officially reopen the door to Russian natural gas?

The diplomacy of drilling

In contested maritime regions, such as the Eastern Mediterranean, drilling rights become a tool for diplomacy, influencing economic policies and territorial claims.

The new Trump tariffs and their impact on the energy market

As the global landscape becomes increasingly unstable, Europe finds itself in a delicate balance of geopolitical tensions, shifting alliances, and economic uncertainties.

Drilling diplomacy: How Chevron is changing the map south of Crete

Chevron’s plan to initiate exploration south of Crete represents a significant shift in the energy landscape of the Eastern Mediterranean, with particular importance for Greece.

The critical energy fields in the Eastern Mediterranean

Public attention is focused on the electrical cables due to Turkish violations in the Dodecanese. Meanwhile, hydrocarbon exploration in Greek waters and the completion of maritime spatial planning have taken a back seat.

Energy mix and social acceptance

The energy transition is widely accepted and is one of the greatest challenges of our time, aiming at the progressive transformation of today's fossil fuel-based energy systems into low-carbon systems.

Exxon and Chevron – Their presence in Greece and the background of their rivalry

The presence of the two major American companies, Exxon Mobil and Chevron, aside from its clear geopolitical implications, also showcases signs of commercial competition. This is significant for Greece, which is positioned on the opposite side of the median line with Libya.

The exploration of hydrocarbons and their geopolitical significance

Now that Libya is opening a tender for three offshore blocks at the median line with Greece and three more near the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) of Malta and Italy, international alliances for bid submissions will emerge.

Geopolitical developments - Cables, pipelines and electricity

Greece must ensure the continuation of the GIS electrical interconnection project, which is one-third funded by the EU, while also safeguarding its sovereign rights in its territorial waters.

Cables, pipelines and electricity

Public attention has shifted recently to electricity cables and Turkey’s violations in the Dodecanese, pushing hydrocarbon exploration and the completion of marine spatial planning to the background.

Electric interconnections-The backdrop of the energy situation

In the middle of the GIS interconnector crisis the EU has increased its reliance on American LNG, and at the same time has raised imports of Russian LNG.

"Electric routes, compromises, and choices

At the end of February, the EU Court sternly pointed out Greece’s chronic delays in completing its planning, arguing that this weakens both Greece’s territorial sovereignty and that of the EU.

What changes in the fuels market

The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, proposed to the then US presidential candidate Donald Trump in early November to replace the Russian gas with US LNG.

Arctic partnerships and energy upheavals

The US's interest in rare earth elements and Russia's focus on developing the Arctic economy and shipping provide a potential framework for the two countries to coexist on the planet. From the US perspective, achieving peace in the broader European area appears to be rooted in a dual export model: peace and the arms industry in light of China’s influence.

US-Russia are handing out much more than Ukraine

The U.S.-Russian discussions cover a wide range of topics including the potential lifting of sanctions on Russian exports, attacks by both Ukrainian and Russian forces on pipeline infrastructure, the future of Nord Stream, the challenges of increasing LNG exports to the EU, Ukrainian metal exports, and on top the Arctic cooperation.

Top analysis of the energy chessboard-US-Russia-EU energy poker. The case of Greece

In 2025, as transit through Ukraine is expected to stop, more U.S. LNG will come to Europe. However, in 2024, European imports of Russian LNG continued their upward trend.

The revival of nuclear energy and the second chance for Greece

What are the economic, technological, environmental, and geopolitical factors fueling the renewed global interest in nuclear energy? Should the country seize this second chance in the nuclear field to address the challenges of the new era?

Arctic collaborations and energy shifts

U.S.-Russian delegations in Riyadh identified areas of cooperation in the Arctic, which is believed to have 13 percent of uncertified oil globally and 30 percent of untapped natural gas reserves. In addition, the United States and Russia are interested in accelerating exploration and extraction of critical raw materials such as copper, cobalt and rare earths in the Arctic.

American oil giants in Greece

Chevron's interest, alongside ExxonMobil's existing operations in Greece, underscores the country's potential in the global energy market. On the other hand the greek initiative prioritizes environmental considerations, including the release of licensed exploration areas in the Ionian Sea to form a continuous National Marine Park.

Drilling Boom in Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, and Albania, While Greece Lags Behind

It's surprising to see the extensive exploration, extraction, and exploitation of natural gas and oil around Greece, especially when compared to Greece's inactivity in this sector.

Cause and Effect: Economic Transition and Implications for the Energy Mix

Starting with Saint-Exupéry’s quote, “A goal without a plan is just a wish,” the book addresses the public debate and political discourse that has long promoted a “green energy transition”.

Tracing the Challenges of the Energy Transition

The high cost of achieving the current energy transformation, along with the corresponding economic and social impacts, is the cause of increasing disputes, particularly in the Western world.

Unpacking the Energy Transition – Economic and Geopolitical Dimensions

The term “energy transition” reflects only a subset of the broader global economic upheavals. The transition is fundamentally economic, with direct effects on the energy mix, the food systems, and the geopolitical/military dynamics.

Correcting Electricity-Production Gap with High-Density Energy Sources

The security and resilience of an electricity system largely depend on its ability to match production with demand under all conditions. The widespread adoption of renewable energy sources complicates this balance due to the lack of large-scale storage capacity of electricity.

How Greece will become an energy hub

Geopolitical developments have a profound impact on the energy market, as international relations, trade agreements, and strategic alliances determine access to energy resources and their prices. Germany and the EU observes the development of Greek hydrocarbons, as Europe seeks ways to reduce its dependence on Russian natural gas and strengthen its energy security.

Analysis of energy developments – The transition is primarily economic

Why Batteries and Nuclear Matter in the Future Energy Landscape

The needs of the 'developing' world (6.5 billion people versus 1.5 billion in the 'developed' world, with about 30% of the global population lacking access to electricity) can be unpredictable.

What does 600 bcm natural gas mean in Crete

Tracing the Challenges of the Energy Transition

The decarbonization of the economy is expected to be achieved through the electrification of energy consumption and an increasing dependence on Renewable Energy Sources (RES). However, this objective has recently faced significant challenges, sparking political, economic, and social tensions.