Notice from the Government of the Hellenic Republic concerning Directive 94/22/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the conditions for granting and using authorisations for the prospection, exploration and production of hydrocarbons
Date: 2026-08-11
Institutions: Greece
Subjects: Attica, Crete, Greece, Peloponnese, Southern Aegean, Western Greece, extraction of oil, hydrocarbon, maritime area, petroleum exploration, public contract, security of supply, seismic monitoring




C_202604436EN.000101.fmx.xml












Official Journal of the European Union


EN
C series













C/2026/4436


11.8.2026






Notice from the Government of the Hellenic Republic concerning Directive 94/22/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the conditions for granting and using authorisations for the prospection, exploration and production of hydrocarbons
(C/2026/4436)


Notice concerning International Public Call for Tenders Ref. No 35059/6.5.2026 on the granting of prospection authorisations for the acquisition and processing of non-exclusive seismic data within maritime areas in Western and Southern Greece

The Hellenic Hydrocarbons and Energy Resources Management Company S.A. (hereinafter ‘HEREMA’) intends, in accordance with its purpose (Article 146 of Law 4001/2011, as currently in force), to investigate and assess the hydrocarbon potential and to ensure the prospection, exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons in already reserved and non-reserved maritime areas in Western and Southern Greece, in full compliance with the EU and national environmental framework and with the prevention and precautionary principles.
HEREMA, based in Athens, Greece, invites interested companies to submit applications under this Call for the granting of one or more prospection authorisations to acquire and process non-exclusive seismic data.
This Public Call is issued on the basis of the provisions of Law 2289/1995 (Government Gazette, Series I, No 27/Α/8.2.1995) on the prospection, exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons and other provisions, as amended and currently in force (‘the Hydrocarbons Law’), and is issued at the request of an interested party, specifically application ref. ΕΔΕΥΕΠ 32852/28.1.2026 from PGS Exploration (UK) Ltd. Further to related memo ref. 35060/6.5.2026, the Minister for the Environment and Energy, by Decision ΥΠΕΝ/ΔΥΔΡ/71569/1319 (Government Gazette, Series II, No 3948/30.6.2026), accepted the application and initiated the tendering procedure described in Article 2(5)(b) of the Hydrocarbons Law.
The aim of the planned seismic exploration is, in accordance with the state-of-the-art standards applied in the hydrocarbon industry, to ensure the acquisition and processing of non-exclusive seismic data, which will assist in assessing the hydrocarbon potential of the area depicted in Map 1 (hereinafter ‘the Prospection Area’). This maritime area is under the jurisdiction of the Hellenic Republic in accordance with Law 4717/2020 (Government Gazette, Series I, No 164, 28.8.2020) and Article 2(1) of Law 2289/1995, as amended by Article 156(2) of Law 4001/2011 (Government Gazette, Series I, No 179, 22.8.2011).
The seismic exploration proposed by applicants may cover the entire Prospection Area or only certain sub-areas of it, and may be two-dimensional (2D) and/or three-dimensional (3D).
As reflected in Map 1, the Prospection Area consists of maritime areas, some of which are reserved (subject to active Lease Agreements), while others are non-reserved (not subject to Lease Agreements).
In the event that the seismic exploration work is extended to areas with active Lease Agreements, and in accordance with the provisions thereof, HEREMA must first obtain the written consent of the Lessees before granting a Prospection Authorisation.
All applications will be considered in accordance with the provisions of the Hydrocarbons Law, as currently in force, and Greek law, and from the perspective of Greece’s continuing need for ongoing, thorough, efficient and safe exploration to identify its oil and gas resources, taking environmental issues into serious consideration.
HEREMA will conclude a written agreement with the applicant(s) selected to carry out the programme of seismic exploration concerned. The criterion for awarding the contract is the most advantageous application, based on the best relationship between technical and financial criteria, assessed according to the weighting factors indicated in the Call.
The application deadline is the first working day after a period of ninety (90) days from the date of publication of this call for tenders in the Official Journal of the European Union.
Applications reaching HEREMA after this date will not be accepted.

This public procurement procedure will be carried out electronically, exclusively via ENTERSOFTONE’s eSource platform (web portal: https://www.marketsite.gr/). Registration of parties interested in submitting a tender is free of charge.

HEREMA will select the most suitable contractor according to the following evaluation criteria:






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Legal Capacity;










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Technical Capacity;










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Financial Capacity;










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Technical and Financial Offer (Competitive Elements);




as specified in the Call.
The Environmental Action Plan (EAP) and Environmental Baseline Report (EBR) that the authorised parties draw up are mandatory requirements and essential prerequisites for initiating seismic exploration under this Call.
All communication relating to this Call (questions, clarifications, answers, etc.) will be handled exclusively through the ‘Communication’ [Επικοινωνία] function of the eSource system, with full timestamping; the answers will be given through that function and posted on the HEREMA website, www.herema.gr.
Further detailed information and all relevant documents will be posted on the HEREMA website (www.herema.gr) on the date of publication of this International Public Call in the Official Journal of the European Union.
In the event of any discrepancy between the original Greek text and its English translation, the Greek text shall prevail.

Map 1


Map of the Prospection Area








ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/C/2026/4436/oj
ISSN 1977-091X (electronic edition)