Russian Companies to Take Part in Tenders for Greek Oil, Gas Exploration

The Greek energy minister said Tuesday Russian companies would take part in tenders for Greek deepwater oil and natural gas exploration.

ATHENS (Sputnik) – Large Russian companies will participate in tenders to explore Greek deepwater oil and natural gas following an extension of the bidding process until July, Greek Energy Minister Panagiotis Lafazanis said Tuesday.

"Representatives of the Russian government confirmed this during the negotiations," Lafazanis said at a press conference wrapping up his two-day visit to Moscow.

The conference was held following Lafazanis’ talks with Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak and head of Russian energy giant Gazprom Alexey Miller.

Greek authorities have prolonged the bidding time for oil and gas exploration on 20 offshore blocks in the Ionian Sea and off southern Crete for additional two months, till July 14.

The decision was made in order to increase the interest of companies to the exploitation of energy resources in these marine areas.

Earlier, Norwegian company PGS carried out research in the Ionian Sea and south of Crete.