Greece’s relevant energy minister on Wednesday pointed to Sept. 10, in roughly two weeks, as a crucial date on the calendar for the all-important hydrocarbon exploration sector, as sealed bids will be opened for blocks south of Crete.

Minister Stavros Papastavrou said the tender process, in fact, will be finalized within the year, with the preferred bidder declared and negotiations commenced over exploitation rights. He also expressed guarded optimism regarding the actual interest of multinational energy companies.

Speaking during an interview with the state broadcast (ERT), Papastavrou was also asked about the procedure for designating marine parks – an issue that has generated Ankara’s anger, at least for the one within Greek territorial waters in the southern Cyclades – saying that public deliberation concludes on Sept. 22.

“The exercise of our sovereign rights is up to us and no one else, truly, no neighbor has a say in how our country exercises its sovereign rights,” he said, characteristically.

Beyond the upcoming and almost guaranteed designation in the southern Cyclades, he described the “30X30” initiative, namely, a goal by Athens to extend heightened protection to 30% of Greece’s maritime regions by 2030.

Additionally, he emphasized that Greece plans to exceed this percentage, reaching 35–36% ahead of schedule. As such, he highlighted the importance of including input in decision-making by professional fishermen based on various islands, citing Amorgos as an example, where professionals proposed to limit their activity for two months a year to help revitalize the surrounding seas.