Türkiye, Greece Vow to Boost Energy Cooperation

Turkish and Greek energy ministers pledged on April 25 to strengthen bilateral cooperation during the first Greek-Turkish Energy Forum in Istanbul organized by the Institute of Energy for SE Europe (IENE). Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said that Türkiye is committed to increasing partnerships while welcoming intergovernmental cooperation as well as private sector collaboration. “We are hopeful that this will be the beginning of a new era of opportunities between Türkiye and our neighbor Greece in the field of energy,” Bayraktar said in a video message. He highlighted the important role that Türkiye plays in Europe’s energy security, part of which is maintaining national and international cooperation. “The most recent Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between TEIAS (Turkish Electricity Transmission Corporation) and IPTO (Independent Power Transmission Operator) is an example of the kind of activity we hope to increase,” he said.

The MoU between Greece and Türkiye signed in December last year in Athens, for a power line connecting both countries’ power grids is scheduled for completion in 2029. “We must continue to support the region and decarbonization efforts for the eventual electrification and digitalization of our energy systems,” he added. For his part, Greek Environment and Energy Minister Theodoros Skylakakis touted the importance of regional cooperation at the national, European-wide and international levels. He also welcomed the recent MoU between IPTO and TEIAS and said it would strengthen the provision of safe and sustainable electricity for its national infrastructure and increase the capacity for electricity and energy trade between Greece and Türkiye.

'Energy efficiency and savings offer a new avenue for collaboration that can support the broader objectives of secure energy supply and a competitive low-carbon economy,' he added. Over the last two decades, Greece and Türkiye have established major electricity and gas interconnections across the Greek-Turkish border and have developed active cross-border transmission and trading in electricity and gas.

“Although there are clear differences in the structure and distribution of the respective fuels in the two countries’ energy mix, and at first glance their energy systems appear antagonistic, there are definitely certain distinct areas of mutual interest where both countries can benefit from closer cooperation”, said the Chairman of IENE, Costis Stambolis in his opening statement at the Forum.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan paid a landmark visit to Greece on Dec. 7, 2023, following a turbulent period in relations in previous years. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced on April 18 that he would visit the Turkish capital, Ankara, on May 13 to meet the Turkish president.