Energy subsidies for small and medium-sized enterprises

Energy Minister Stavros Papastavrou announced on Tuesday that the government will offer electricity subsidies for small and medium-sized enterprises, immediately and with retroactive effect.

Papastavrou said in his interview on Open TV that these subsidies will exclude businesses that have been proven guilty of electricity theft with their share of the subsidies being distributed among the remaining businesses. “It is a matter of moral order,” he added.

Referring to the establishment of the National Spatial Strategy for the Marine Area, which reflects the Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) of Greece, the minister stressed that it is the first time that the Greek state delimits detailed uses of its maritime zones, implementing the obligation arising from Directive 2014/89/EU and exercising its rights stemming from International Law.

“For the first time, we delimit terms of fishing, cultural protection and tourism, laying the foundations for a stable economy, development and environmental protection. There is also a geopolitical dimension here, because for the first time, the map with the entire continental shelf of our country is being submitted to a regulatory text of the European Union, with full influence on both the continental zone and the islands,” the minister underlined, among other things.

At the same time, he announced that before the end of April, a ministerial decision will be issued regarding the proclamation of an international tender for hydrocarbon exploration in the marine areas “South Crete 1” and “South Crete 2,” a move thatfollows from the acceptance of the expression of interest in these marine areas submitted by Chevron Balkans Exploration B.V.