Greek energy minister Theodoros Skylakakis met Saudi energy minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman al Saud in Riyadh on Tuesday. They confirmed the strategic importance of creating a green energy corridor between Saudi Arabia and Europe, which will pass through Greece.
Saudi Arabia plans to develop 130 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy resources by 2030, which could be used for electricity exports, and also has carbon capture and storage ambitions, as does Greece.
The two countries agreed to connect their electricity grids in 2022, and they have now decided to extend the feasibility study of the project to explore the possibility of adding a hydrogen corridor.
This is the first time in 20 years that a Greek energy minister has made an official visit to the Middle Eastern country. The visit follows the meeting between the Greek Prime Minister and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia on January 13, during which the 1st Supreme Council for Strategic Cooperation was held.
The Prime Minister highlighted the initiatives Greece is pursuing in renewable energy sources and digital connectivity, aiming to become a hub in South-Eastern Europe. Kyriakos Mitsotakis also emphasized Greece’s potential to serve as a gateway for Asia and the Middle East to Europe.