Athens, 30 September 2025 – The Hellenic Hydrocarbons and Energy Resources Management Company (HEREMA), conducted a series of meetings with representatives of local authorities in the region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace on the 29th and 30th of September 2025, in the context of providing information for the national and strategic CO2 storage project in Prinos, Kavala.
Government officials attended the 12th Regional Council of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace that took place in Komotini on Monday, 29 September, led by the Deputy Minister of Energy in the Ministry of Environment and Energy, Nikos Tsafos. He was accompanied by HEREMA CEO, Dr. Aristofanis Stefatos, Head of Geoscience and Management Consultant at HEREMA, Dr. Efthimios Tartaras, and Associate Professor of Hydrocarbon Reservoirs and Geothermal Field Engineering at the National Technical University of Athens, Dr. Vasileios Gaganis.
During the open, informative meeting Regional Governor Christodoulos Topsidis and members of the Regional Council were presented information on the importance, progress and benefits of this key project, which is being implemented in the context of Greece’s national energy strategy – designed with the aim to achieve energy transition sustainably and safely. In addition, Dr. Stefatos announced the intention of forming a Monitoring Committee for the project, comprising specialized scientists with proven expertise, HEREMA executives, and representatives of the local authorities.
On the second day of the visit to the region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, HEREMA executives met with the Mayor of Kavala, Theodoros Mouriadis, and the Mayor of Nestos, Savvas Michaïlidis. The meetings’ agenda pertained to information about the construction, operation, monitoring and safety of the underground geological storage of CO2 in the depleted deposit of Prinos, an investment that will continue utilizing existing infrastructure, local expertise and jobs in a safe and environmentally responsible manner, congruent with the goal of green transition.
Commenting on the meetings with representatives of local athorities, HEREMA CEO Aristofanis Stefatos, stated: “HEREMA is the country’s competent licensing authority for the geological storage of CO2, a strategic pillar of our mission to build a bridge to a carbon-free future. In the context of our mandate we have accepted invitations to inform local authorities and communities, and we have presented to them accurate and documented information for the project. And we shall continue this open dialogue with the area’s authorities and people, to stress the value of CO2 geological storage – a critical technology for the fight against climate change.”
This is an extremely significant energy project, as it enhances Greece’s commitments to achieve the goal of green transition and climate neutrality, with absolute respect to people and the environment. In addition, it supports the competitiveness of the hard-to-abate Greek industry that has no other way of decarbonizing its operation and production (e.g. cement production, refineries, fertilizer industry, steelworks). At the same time, this constitutes a strategic investment for the region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace which will develop a new value chain, will support local economy during the project’s construction and operation phase, and will cultivate new expertise and specialized skills that will become necessary in the following years, as CO2 storage will continue developing in Europe and elsewhere around the world.
