Once overlooked, the region around Alexandroupolis is now at the centre of plans to secure gas supplies and reshape the EU’s energy map.
Thrace, at the southeastern edge of Europe, has for decades been a “forgotten frontier” in the European narrative, far from the centres of decision-making and investment.
Today, however, that picture is changing rapidly. The region is being reshaped into a critical geopolitical and energy hub as Europe accelerates its decoupling from Russian energy and looks for new, secure gas gateways.
Thrace — and Alexandroupolis in particular — is now at the heart of this redesign, taking on a growing role in the EU’s energy diversification.
From a “forgotten border”, the region has evolved into a strategic crossroads for European energy security.
Why gas is still necessary
As Europe prepares to say goodbye to Russian energy for good, with Russian oil and gas imports set to reach zero by 2028, a fierce debate is unfolding in European capitals about how to secure the next phase of the energy supply for European Union households and businesses.
Despite years of efforts to accelerate the green transition, natural gas — the cleanest of the fossil fuels — is expected to remain a critical part of Europe’s energy mix for years to come, acting as a bridge fuel.
According to analyses by the European Commission and international energy organisations, natural gas continues to play a key role in keeping electricity grids stable, balancing renewable energy production, and supporting industrial energy security.
The interruption of Russian flows, combined with a gradual recovery in demand, creates a significant gap in the European market.
By 2030, it is estimated that central and eastern Europe will need an additional 35 billion cubic metres (bcm) of gas per year, which will have to be covered through new infrastructure, diversified supplies, and alternative routes.
Countries that manage to fill this gap are expected to benefit in two ways: through revenues from transit and gas trading, and through increased geopolitical influence as key pillars of Europe’s energy diversification strategy.
Greece’s battle and the decisive role of Thrace
As Russia’s energy squeeze has left many pipelines running through Europe underused, liquefied natural gas (LNG) is emerging as the key alternative to meet European demand.
In this market, Greece is seeking to secure a substantial share, leveraging its geographical location and its existing — and expanding — infrastructure.
Central to this strategy is the so-called Vertical Corridor, the pipeline network linking the country’s two LNG terminals — the FSRU (Floating Storage and Regasification Unit) in Alexandroupolis and the LNG terminal in Revithoussa — with the interconnected gas systems of Bulgaria and Romania, allowing volumes to be transported as far as Ukraine.
The same corridor can supply markets in Hungary, Slovakia, and Moldova, strengthening energy security in central and eastern Europe.
At the same time, discussions are underway to further expand the pipeline network so that LNG, largely of US origin, can enter Greece and be channelled to even more European markets, among them Italy via TAP, as well as Austria, turning the country into a key gateway to the EU. (Euronews.eu)