DEPA Commercial Group at the 90th Thessaloniki International Fair: Greece Builds New Energy Bridges and Strengthens Its Role in Southeast Europe
Thessaloniki, 7 September 2026
Stavros Papastavrou, Nikos Tsafos and Despina Paliarouta highlight DEPA Commercial’s strategic role in energy security and Greece’s international standing – K. Xifaras: “Energy security is built years before a crisis”
The role Greece can play in the new energy landscape of Southeast Europe, at a time of profound geopolitical and technological change, was at the heart of an event organised by DEPA Commercial in the context of the Thessaloniki International Fair, under the theme “Greece in the New Energy Landscape: Infrastructure, Markets and Prospects.”
With the participation of the leadership of the Ministry of Environment and Energy, senior energy market executives and representatives of the academic community, the discussion covered the entire energy value chain: from international natural gas flows and LNG to power generation, renewable energy sources and the retail electricity market.
The event opened with remarks by the Greek Environment and Energy Minister Stavros Papastavrou, Energy Deputy Minister Nikos Tsafos, Energy and Mineral Raw Materials Secretary General Despina Paliarouta and DEPA Commercial Chief Executive Officer Konstantinos Xifaras. The journalist Nikos Filippidis moderated the event and the thematic panel discussions.
Ministry leadership highlights DEPA Commercial’s role
In their remarks, the Minister, Deputy Minister and Secretary General placed particular emphasis on DEPA Commercial’s contribution to Greece’s energy security, the strengthening of international energy interconnections and the expansion of the country’s role in the wider region.
Particular reference was made to the transformation the company has undergone in recent years and to the contribution of Konstantinos Xifaras’ leadership in evolving DEPA from a company primarily focused on natural gas supply into a modern, vertically integrated and internationally oriented energy group, with activities spanning international energy supply and trading, infrastructure, power generation, renewable energy sources and the retail market.
The Ministry’s leadership also underscored the importance of the company’s investment and commercial initiatives in strengthening Greece’s position as a gateway and transit hub for energy flows towards Southeast and Central Europe.
- Xifaras: Energy security is not crisis management, but a long-term strategy
For his part, DEPA Commercial Chief Executive Officer Konstantinos Xifaras, noted that the shifts currently taking place in the European energy market validate strategic choices and investments made with a long-term horizon.
He placed particular emphasis on the active role assumed by the current leadership of the Ministry of Environment and Energy and by the government as a whole, noting that Greece is not merely observing international energy developments, but is actively contributing to shaping policy both at European level and across the wider international landscape.
As he stressed, Greece is building new bridges and strategic partnerships with the United States, Israel and other key international partners, while at the same time strengthening its geopolitical and energy position.
“Energy security is not built when a crisis breaks out. It is built years in advance, through strategic planning, infrastructure, networks, diversified supply sources and long-term agreements,” he said.
Mr Xifaras referred in particular to the Interconnector Greece–Bulgaria (IGB) and the Alexandroupolis FSRU, projects that have strengthened the diversification of supply sources and routes and upgraded Greece’s position within regional energy flows.
As he pointed out, DEPA’s transformation continues. The company is now developing a strong and diversified generation portfolio, approaching 1.5 GW in modern thermal power plants, while at the same time targeting more than 1 GW of renewable energy projects by the end of 2027.
At the same time, through ATLANTIC SEE LNG TRADE, DEPA Commercial is opening a new chapter in its international activities, laying the groundwork for long-term LNG supplies from 2030 and over the following 20 years. This strategic move links the security of supply of the Greek market with the country’s emergence as a broader energy hub for Southeast Europe.
In this context, Mr Xifaras stressed that investment decisions of this scale often go beyond purely commercial considerations and become a matter of national responsibility, as no economy and no society can withstand the consequences of a disruption to energy supply.
He also placed particular emphasis on the people behind this journey. Referring to the expertise and credibility of DEPA’s executives, he noted that the company today possesses the market knowledge and data required not only to make informed business decisions, but also to provide the State with a reliable and evidence-based assessment of critical energy policy choices.
LNG and the Vertical Corridor: the new geography of energy flows
The first thematic panel, focusing on the emerging natural gas energy corridors, brought together AKTOR LNG CEO Rita Galli, ICGB CEO Pierros Chatzigiannis, DESFA Market & System Development Senior Director Gerasimos Avlonitis and DEPA Gas Trading Activities Commercial Coordinating Director Christos Basdekis.
The discussion focused on the growing importance of LNG, the opportunities created by the Vertical Corridor, and the gradual reshaping of natural gas flows across the region.
There was broad agreement that the value of Greek energy infrastructure is no longer limited to meeting domestic demand. It is now directly linked to ensuring security of supply across a much wider geographical area.
The electricity market faces a new equation
During the panel discussion on electricity, Thessaloniki Aristotle University Professor Pantelis Biskas, HERON Energy Management Director Konstantinos Baslis, and DEPA Electricity Trading Activities Commercial Director Yiannis Papamikrouleas, discussed the major changes resulting from the increasing penetration of renewable energy sources.
The discussion focused on the need for greater flexibility across the power system, the development of energy storage, the importance of modern power generation units, and the new market conditions emerging from the closer integration of regional electricity markets.
Retail market: competition must deliver for consumers
The event concluded with a discussion on the retail electricity market, featuring FYSIKO AERIO Energy Supply & Regulatory Affairs Director Zaira Trivyza, and Energy Suppliers Hellenic Association (ESPEN) Deputy General Manager Kostas Papamichail.
The discussion highlighted the challenges facing the energy supply market in an environment characterised by significant volatility, increasing requirements for suppliers and a continuing need for greater transparency, effective competition and better products for consumers.
From energy security to Greece’s new regional role
A common thread ran through all the event’s discussions: the energy system of tomorrow cannot be built on partial solutions. It requires timely planning, adequate and interconnected infrastructure, diversified supply sources, sufficient generation capacity, well-functioning markets and stable international partnerships.
Within this new landscape, DEPA Commercial is systematically expanding its footprint. From natural gas and LNG to power generation, renewable energy sources and retail, the company is investing across the entire energy value chain while strengthening its presence beyond Greece’s borders.
With security of supply, competitiveness and the energy transition as its consistent strategic priorities, DEPA Commercial aims to remain at the core of the new energy architecture currently taking shape in Greece and across Southeast Europe.
