Athens, 23 October 2025 – The Hellenic Hydrocarbons and Energy Resources Management Company (HEREMA) participated at the 2nd Regional Growth Conference of Eastern Macedonia & Thrace (RGC REMTH) that was held in Komotini on 21–22 October 2025, highlighting the region’s pivotal role as a strategic hub for Greece’s energy future. HEREMA is a State-owned company, responsible for the planning, licensing, and management of key energy resources and technologies that enable the country’s transition to a robust and sustainable energy system.
HEREMA was represented by Dr. Efthimios Tartaras, Head of Geoscience and Management Consultant, who took part in the panel “Eastern Macedonia and Thrace: A Crossroads of Energy Investments.” In his remarks, Dr. Tartaras emphasized the region’s integral role in the implementation of strategic energy projects that combine environmental responsibility, innovation and regional growth, such as the CO2 storage project in Prinos, Kavala and the pilot offshore wind projects in Evros—both under HEREMA’s institutional supervision.
As Dr. Tartaras noted, the Prinos project is a landmark example of a fair and safe transition from extractive activity to a new era of clean energy, utilizing existing infrastructure and technical expertise, while also maintaining the region’s developmental continuity. The project—the first of its kind in Southeastern Europe—is co-funded by approximately €270 million in European funds, through the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) and the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF). It is under the continuous monitoring of the European Commission and DG CLIMA, the contribution of which ensures full compliance with the European regulatory framework, as well as the highest environmental and safety standards.
In the context of further enhancing transparency and public trust, Dr. Tartaras also referred to the formation of a Project Monitoring Committee, comprising academics and specialized scientists from the wider region, as well as representatives of local authorities. The Committee will contribute to the independent, scientifically substantiated, and ongoing monitoring of the project’s implementation.
Regarding the pilot offshore wind projects in Evros, Dr. Tartaras stressed that HEREMA, as the competent authority for drafting and implementing Greece’s National Development Programme for Offshore Wind Farms, is gearing methodically toward the next stages of project maturation, aiming to ensure the sustainable and well-coordinated growth of the overall sector. These projects, he noted, will serve as a key pillar of Greece’s energy security and regional development, operating within a strict environmental protection framework.
In closing, he stressed that the two projects—the CO2 storage in Prinos and the offshore wind farms in Evros—place Eastern Macedonia and Thrace at the forefront of Greece’s energy transition, establishing the region as a model of zero-emission and green growth.