Thessaloniki, 9 September 2024 – The Greek Minister of Environment and Energy, Theodoros Skylakakis, and the CEO of the Hellenic Hydrocarbons and Energy Resources Management Company (HEREMA), Aristofanis Stefatos, officially inaugurated HEREMA’s booth at the 88th Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF), on Saturday, 7 September 2024.
The event was attended and addressed by the Minister of Economy and Finance, Kostis Hatzidakis; the Deputy Minister of Environment and Energy, Alexandra Sdoukou; the Secretary General for Energy and Mineral Raw Materials, Aristotelis Aïvaliotis; and the Chairman of the HEREMA Board of Directors, Rikard Scoufias.
Representatives of organizations and companies active in the energy, maritime and industry sectors were also present in the inauguration, as well as journalists and dozens of visitors.
Opening the event, the Minister of Environment and Energy, Theodoros Skylakakis, stated: “HEREMA has undertaken the significant task of capitalizing on two major energy resources for Greece; hydrocarbons, the exploitation of which as a bridge fuel is anticipated to bring both energy and financial benefits to the country, and offshore wind capacity, with the development of offshore wind farms deemed key for Greece’s robust energy status for decades to come. These are national projects geared to change the country’s energy trajectory and will actively contribute to the green transition effort. I thank the HEREMA Management for their excellent work thus far, allowing us to speedily enter the next phase of research, tenders, and installations.”
In his address, the Minister of Economy and Finance, Kostis Hatzidakis, recalled his own tenure at the Ministry of Environment and Energy and the decision taken at the time to broaden the HEREMA mandate and upgrade its Management: “We selected a Leadership Team of the highest possible caliber, comprising executives with international experience and knowledge in the field. This decision is yielding results and I’m pleased that HEREMA now has additional responsibilities, including renewables, and is therefore called upon to play an even more critical role.”
Adding to that, the Deputy Minister of Environment and Energy, Alexandra Sdoukou, said: “We believed in the potential of the incumbent Management to take HEREMA and the whole country further, energy-wise, by widening the Company’s remit beyond its core business of the exploration and production of hydrocarbons. And judging from our engagement with the German delegation –as Germany is this year’s honored country at TIF– and their offshore wind targets, it’s clear that our country has to accelerate the development of OWF; a true game-changing project with excellent growth potential.”
The Secretary General for Energy and Mineral Raw Materials, Aristotelis Aïvaliotis, highlighted the importance of HEREMA’s third strategic pillar, Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) projects, which are crucial for the Greek industrial sector: “The Greek State has assigned HEREMA with the critical role of developing the regulatory framework for this new market, which can evolve into a significant driver of growth for Greece. For certain energy-intensive industries there can be no green transition without CCS. And we’re fully conscious that in order for HEREMA to accomplish this important mission, it has to be further strengthened with the necessary personnel.”
HEREMA is participating for the first time as an exhibitor at TIF, as mentioned by CEO Aristofanis Stefatos in his introductory speech: “Today, we’re inaugurating our TIF booth to present our work at HEREMA, which extends on multiple levels and comprises the planning, licensing and management of significant projects for our energy future. A fundamental aspect of all our projects is that, combined, they address climate change and contribute to energy transition. Our mandate therefore is critical and one that we’re obliged to fulfil. I’m happy to share that thanks to everyone’s efforts, and I’d like to especially thank the Minister of Environment and Energy Mr. Skylakakis for his trust and collaboration, our work has now matured. Which means that from the planning and preparation phase, we’re now entering the implementation phase across our strategic pillars. And we’re also entering a new set of challenges, with the aim to continue returning value to our country. And I assure you that we shall continue doing so with the same vim and vigor.”
Closing the inauguration event, the Chairman of the HEREMA BoD, Rikard Scoufias, noted: “The challenge for HEREMA is balancing goals such as sustainability, energy security, and energy prosperity. To meet this challenge, the Company has developed an integrated energy strategy that brings Greece to the forefront of energy transition. As we’re entering the most difficult part of our work –the execution phase– and in order to succeed in the implementation of our strategic plan, we’re looking forward to further support from the Government and Ministry. I’m truly honored to have been a part of this amazing teamwork.”
The HEREMA team will be present at TIF for the duration of the Fair, until 15 September 2024. At the Company’s booth (Pavilion 10, Stand 17), scientific experts and partners will be at the disposal of visitors every day, during TIF operating hours.