Filenews 2 September 2025 - by Eleftheria Paizanou
The world-class French company Technip has been assigned to carry out a study for the completion of the terminal project in Vassilikos, Energy Minister George Papanastasiou said in Parliament on Tuesday morning.
During today's long discussion of the developments around the natural gas terminal in the parliamentary Energy Committee, the minister referred to his introductory intervention on the latest data. According to Mr. Papanastasiou, when the government took over, the project was in a marginal state and the Prometheus ship was trapped in Shanghai, while the execution of the contract with the Chinese company CPP was also at an impasse.
As Mr. Papanastasiou said, the contract was terminated (in July 2024), adding that "in the meantime we secured the ship, on which the necessary works are being carried out, so that it can be certified as a floating de-hydrogenation unit".
At the same time, he said that ETYFA has proceeded to assign the role of project manager to the French company Technip, which has experience in monitoring and completing such projects, with the first mission of preparing a study on the state in which the project is located and its completion.
At the same time, the minister noted that the project of the terminal is under investigation by the European Court of Auditors, the European Public Prosecutor's Office and CINEA (European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency).
Mr. Papanastasiou also referred to the next steps, pointing out that the study of the French company will give direction on whether the project can continue with the existing data. "We know that society is shouting, we are criticized for mistakes made in the past, the reaction is justified, the responsibilities are not limited to the current management, our obligation is to identify the mistakes and find solutions for the completion of the project," he added.
According to the minister, as soon as the study is received, the data will be checked and decisions will be taken. "I have to inform the President and the Council of Ministers about the decisions. We will not mention completion timetables, I ask for the support of the Parliament," he stressed. He also noted that any timetables that had been given in the past were based on an evaluation by ETYFA at a given time.
