Iran may use Greek facilities to export gas to Europe

Athens

GREECE is in preliminary talks with Iran to secure natural gas for local needs and provide a gateway for the Persian Gulf nation to supply fuel to other parts of Europe, Greek Energy Minister Panos Skourletis said.

Greece produces little oil and almost no gas, while Iran is a member of Opec and holds gas reserves that BP plc ranks as the world's largest. The countries agreed in January for Iran to supply crude to Hellenic Petroleum and buy oil products from the refiner. That deal, possibly Iran's first such agreement with a European company since the lifting of sanctions, opens the road to cooperation in the gas market too, Mr Skourletis said in an interview in Athens. "What's sure is that Iran wants to start selling its natural gas in liquefied form using ships and is interested in Greece," he said. The Revythousa re-gasification terminal near Athens is one potential entry point for Iranian gas, and a planned facility at Alexandroupolis in the north of the country is another. Iran is interested in both sites "for exporting to Europe", Mr Skourletis said.