Funding for first Greek LNG bunkering
Based in Piraeus and with a capacity of 3,000m3, the vessel, the first of its kind in Greece and the eastern Mediterranean, will be supplied with LNG at Revithoussa LNG terminal and will refuel ships both in Piraeus and the wider region.
The agreement was signed by Konstantinos Xifaras, chief executive of DEPA, and Andrew McDowell, EIB vice president, in the presence of the president of the board of directors of DEPA, Ioannis Papadopoulos, who said, “The new financing from the EIB, the largest investment arm of Europe, is yet one more vote of confidence to the growth prospects of the Greek economy and confirms the significant improvement of the investment climate.
“It comes in support of a crucial investment in the area of natural gas, which is at the centre of global developments, and contributes to the transformation of Greece into a regional hub.”
“Furthermore, this is a green investment, which paves the way for cleaner and more competitive maritime transport in the eastern Mediterranean, contributing to the reduction of the country’s environmental footprint, in accordance with the ambitious targets set by the new National Plan for Energy and Climate.”
The loan is guaranteed by the European Fund for Strategic Investments and will cover 50% of the vessel’s construction cost. DEPA has secured an additional amount of €8.9m under the ‘BlueHUBS’ initiative which aims to expand the use of LNG in the eastern Mediterranean.
