Kavala, 13 January 2026 – The Hellenic Hydrocarbons and Energy Resources Management Company (HEREMA) announces that the first meeting of the Monitoring Committee for the strategic CO2 storage project in the area of Prinos has been concluded, with the participation of all its members. The Committee was established as a HEREMA initiative to offer local communities transparent and reliable information from distinguished scientists and Professors, representatives of national scientific bodies, and institutional representatives of local authorities.
The Monitoring Committee comprises:
– Dr. Nikolaos Kokkinos, Professor of Chemistry at the Democritus University of Thrace
– Dr. Anastasia Kiratzi, Emeritus Professor of Seismology at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
– Dr. Dimitrios Sakellariou, Research Director at the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research and Secretary General of the Union of Greek Researchers
– Dr. Georgios Sylaios, Professor of Environmental Engineering at the Democritus University of Thrace
– Maria Chamitidou, Deputy Head of the Directorate of Environment and Spatial Planning, Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace
– Sotirios Lazaridis, President of the Administrative Committee, Technical Chamber of Greece – Eastern Macedonia Branch
– Dr. Efthimios Tartaras, Head of Geoscience at HEREMA and the Committee’s Organizational Secretary
The meeting was held in Kavala, with Dr. Tartaras commenting: “Today we officially launched the proceedings of the Monitoring Committee for the extremely important Prinos CO2 Storage Project. I would like to warmly thank the eminent scientists and representatives of local authorities for agreeing to dedicate their time pro bono, thus supporting a strategic national effort and enhancing the transparency of the process. The role of the Committee is to issue independent, non-binding opinions. It undertakes the endeavor to monitor the implementation of the project, as per the stringent environmental terms and safety measures it adheres to, and examine the relevant technical and scientific data.”
Prior to the meeting, the members of the Committee visited the Prinos facilities, where the CO2 storage project will be implemented by EnEarth, a subsidiary of Energean, as operator. Company representatives briefed the Committee on the progress and next steps of the project; the strict safety standards applied at the hydrocarbon production facilities—under the institutional supervision of HEREMA as the Competent Authority for offshore safety in hydrocarbon exploration and production activities in Greece; and the environmental measures being followed, in accordance with international best practices, as well as European and national regulations.
The underground storage of CO2 in the depleted Prinos oil field, off the coast of Kavala, constitutes an extremely significant energy project and a critical public-interest infrastructure, in the context of Greece’s comprehensive energy and climate strategy. Once operational, the project will significantly contribute to achieving national targets for green transition and climate neutrality, with absolute respect for people and the environment. At the same time, it supports the competitiveness of hard-to-abate Greek industry that has no alternative way of decarbonizing its operation and production. The project also represents a strategic investment for the region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace by creating a new value chain, strengthening the local economy during both construction and operational phases, and fostering specialised expertise and skills.
