DESFA’s New Year’s Celebration Event was held on January 14th, 2020, one year after the successful acquirement of the 66% of DESFA’s share capital by Senfluga consortium. The event held at the company’s headquarters in Athens, in the presence of SENFLUGA CEOs, the Secretary General for Energy & Mineral Resources of the Ministry for the Environment and Energy and DESFA’s employees from all regional facilities.
SENFLUGA was represented by Mr. Marco Alvera, CEO of Snam, Mr. Marcelino Orejas, CEO of Enagas, Mr. Pascal de Buck, CEO of Fluxys, Mr. Dimitrios Copelouzos, Chairman and Managing Director of Copelouzos Group and Mr. Christos Copelouzos, Chairman and Managing Director of Damco Energy SA, who acquired a 10% participation stake in Senfluga Energy Infrastructure Holdings SA. The event honored also with her presence Mrs. Alexandra Sdoukou, Secretary General for Energy & Mineral Resources at the Ministry for the Environment and Energy. All DESFA’s regional facilities, from Revithoussa, Patima, Ambelia, Nea Mesimvria, Sidirokastro, Vistonida and Spathovouni, were connected via a live video link and employees across Greece had the opportunity to exchange wishes for the New Year. The event took place in a festive atmosphere, highlighting DESFA’s new era and vision in the new decade.
As Marco Alvera, CEO of Snam, noted:
“We are pleased to celebrate the anniversary of the successful privatization of DESFA with the proposal of a new development plan, which will make the company stronger and increase its contribution to the Greek economy and European energy transition. Snam and its local and international partners are committed to accelerating the growth of DESFA, development of Greece as a European gas hub and promotion of renewable gases, such as biomethane and hydrogen so that the country can have a key role in the realization of an increasingly integrated, secure and sustainable European energy system, which will benefit Greek and European consumers”.
Marcelino Oreja, CEO of Enagás, has stressed the company’s sustainable strategy and the increasing potential of Greece as a gas hub. “We have proposed a new ambitious Development Plan that responds to the strong demand growth expected in Greece during the next decade, and includes not only the reinforcement of the Greek gas network, but also positioning Greece as a gas hub for South East Europe and a key country for guaranteeing the European gas supply”. Mr. Oreja added “the plan recognizes, as well the crucial role of natural gas for the energy transition. In this respect, Enagás is fully committed with the promotion of renewable gases (biomethane and hydrogen) in the markets were we are present, as part of a circular economy system and as a contribution to the decarbonization of the natural gas chain”.
Pascal de Buck, CEO of Fluxys, said: “We have a bright new year ahead of us and Fluxys as partner in DESFA is committed to help shape its future. We are keen to continue sharing our LNG, transit and gas hub development expertise and work with our co-shareholders to bring the energy transition forward while unlocking the potential of Greece as a key gas hub for South-East Europe.”
Christos Copelouzos, Chairman and Managing Director of DAMCO Energy, stated that “We would like to join our partners in wishing a happy, successful and prosperous new year to the entire DESFA “crew” and their families. We are happy to be part of DESFA and we are confident that together, with the management and the employees, we will continue to strive for excellence, achieving the most challenging objectives, delivering extraordinary results and making DESFA a great place to work”.
Alexandra Sdoukou, Secretary General for Energy & Mineral Resources, said that “2020 will be a significant year for DESFA and for the evolution of Natural Gas in our country as a key component in our Energy mix on a journey towards a cleaner and more sustainable world. I would like to assure you of the Greek government’s support in your efforts towards making DESFA a model energy company in Greece and the East Med region at large”.
It’s been almost one successful year since DESFA entered into a new era after the inclusion of Senfluga Energy Infrastructure Holdings S.A. consortium in its final shareholder structure. For the new decade the Operator’s vision is based on preparing the appropriate infrastructure for the significant growth of gas demand expected in the next 10 years, driven by the power production and urban uses, the LNG for bunkering and virtual pipeline to islands, as well as G-mobility. In the years to come, gas will play an increasingly important role as the backbone of the renewable energy transformation, progressively replacing coal in power production and DESFA will be a strategic partner to the new developments.
