Environment and Energy Minister Theodoros Skylakakis on Wednesday that there may be "positive surprises" on the energy prices "front" in the coming period, speaking at the Economist Conference in Athens. He referred to the high natural gas reserves in Europe's underground depots, the availability of liquified natural gas (LNG) and the good weather conditions. He added, however, that if the crisis in the Middle East spreads there could be negative surprises instead. Asked about support for consumers, he replied that there will be announcements next week regarding measures targeting households that are vulnerable in financial and energy terms.

He also added that if there are price hikes for a long period then the government will intervene.

Skylakakis also presented investments in the energy sector that are in progress, such as the floating LNG terminal at the port of Alexandroupolis, exploration for fossil fuels, the Greece-Cyprus-Israel and Greece-northern Africa electricity interconnections and the offshore wind farms, about which there will be announcements in the coming week.