Natural gas is critical for the success of the green transition, according to Greece’s Minister of Environment and Energy, Theodoros Skylakakis.

Speaking to Oikonomikos Tachydromos (OT), Skylakakis emphasized that natural gas provides a practical solution to energy challenges while supporting renewable energy sources (RES).

“Natural gas is absolutely necessary for the green transition,” Skylakakis stated, addressing concerns over hydrocarbon exploration in Greece, and says the Greek government’s position has nothing to do with the election of U.S. President Donald Trump, who is in favor of drilling for fossil fuels.

The recent interest from Chevron in an offshore area southwest of the Peloponnese, along with ongoing exploration in Crete by ExxonMobil, highlights Greece’s role in Europe’s energy landscape, says Skylakakis. “We now have the two largest private hydrocarbon companies globally conducting research in Greece,” boasts the Minister, noting this as a significant achievement for the government.

Skylakakis also explained the importance of natural gas in addressing intermittent renewable energy production. He pointed to the “dark calm” phenomenon in Central Europe, where low winds and cloudy conditions reduced energy output from wind turbines and solar panels. “There is no battery today capable of storing energy for an entire week,” he said, adding that gas-powered plants offer quick response times with minimal environmental impact compared to other fossil fuels.

Skylakakis also called for pragmatic approaches to achieving climate goals. He criticized costly and fragmented EU targets, stating, “We don’t need 100 secondary goals to reduce CO2 emissions. Countries should decide independently how to achieve these targets.” He emphasized Greece’s success in RES development, which has resulted in a surplus of 10 million CO2 emission rights. “Scandinavian and other countries are asking to buy them from us,” he noted.

The minister warned that delays in the green transition would lead to more extreme weather events. He also advocated for balancing environmental priorities with economic feasibility, saying, “We must remove the ideological facade of the green transition and focus on solving the actual problem.”

He highlights that Greece’s energy strategy remains focused on RES growth while exploring natural gas as a vital bridge fuel, aligned with European standards, to ensure a sustainable and effective green transition.