Nikolas Rigas, Head of Carbon Storage at EnEarth, a division of Energean Group, emphasized the significance of carbon dioxide (CO2) storage in Prinos for the continued operation of the industry in Greece during events held in Athens over the past few days.

Mr. Rigas emphasized that CO2 capture and storage has become a one-way street for the industry due to the need to address the effects of the climate crisis on the basis of the European Commission's Net Zero Industry Act and the rising costs of CO2 emission allowances. It is noteworthy that two CO2 storage projects have already been launched in the Mediterranean, in Prino and Ravenna in Italy, but with a total capacity of less than 10% of the emissions from the two countries' industries, which amount to 75 million metric tons in total.

He added that it is crucial to have effective management by the public administration according to agreed schedules as well as continuous cooperation with the operators so that the projects are not endangered by bureaucracy. "EnEarth submitted in June to the Hellenic Hydrocarbons and Energy Resources Management Company (Hellenic Hydrocarbons and Energy Resources Management Company) the application for the acquisition of the storage permit for the Prinos project, while in the first days of August it submitted the Environmental Impact Study, which is to be submitted for public consultation, and is awaiting the verification of the completeness of the relevant file," the head of the company's CO2 Storage Sector said.

It is noted that these remarks were made by Mr. Rigas at the "14th Annual Capital Link Operational Excellence in Shipping Forum" conference, organised by the Capital Link Forum, as well as during the workshop "The Capacity Building Workshop,"  co-organised by the Global CCS Institute, the EDSEEP, and EBN, the Dutch state-controlled energy company that invests in the areas of hydrocarbon research and development, energy transition, and carbon capture and storage.