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Dec 10

Statement on the postponed hearing of the climate litigation case against the Alexandroupolis FSRU

December 10, 2025

The appeal lodged by environmental groups, which challenges the siting of the floating LNG regasification unit in the Alexandroupolis Natura 2000 marine zone has been postponed for the fifth time. The hearing is now set for April 1, 2026.

Since the appeal’s submission to the Council of State in December 2023, the environmental organizations have sought the project’s cancellation due to its significant impacts on biodiversity, including the rich fish fauna of the Sea of Thrace, and the fact that it is located within a marine protected area, despite such activities being prohibited in Natura 2000 sites. In their appeal and supplementary briefs submitted to the Council of State, the organizations emphasize the critical issue of methane emissions concealment, given that methane is the most potent greenhouse gas**. Furthermore, they request that the court evaluates the project’s contribution to increased greenhouse gas emissions in light of Greece’s obligations under national, European Union, and international law. According to the organizations, authorizing activities that elevate the country’s emissions without conducting a proper impact assessment or implementing offset measures contravenes these legal commitments.

In the context of the pending court hearing, which was eventually postponed, we received messages of support from people, whose lives have been adversely impacted by similar floating LNG systems. These floating industrial systems are sources of pollution, constant high-intensity noise, methane emissions, and contribute to fish declines in key fishing areas. They also represent hotspots for potential major industrial accidents. Such floating LNG regasification systems are environmentally destructive, exacerbating the climate crisis and deteriorating the quality of life for coastal populations. Additionally, continued reliance on new LNG storage and regasification infrastructure undermines the goals of achieving geopolitically secure energy independence, affordable clean energy, transparency, and social participation, which is essential for developing a robust and safe Greek energy system for both people and nature.

* Hellenic Ornithological Society (Birdlife Greece), Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature, MEDASSET, Greenpeace Greece, WWF Greece

** According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), while methane has 29.8 times greater global warming potential than CO2 over a 100-year time scale, it is 82.5 times more potent over a 20-year time scale.