Greece to Begin First Offshore Oil Drilling in 50 Years in 2027

Monday, 18 May 2026/Source: CretaOne/1 min read

Greece's Minister of Environment and Energy, Stavros Papasatvrou, has announced that the first hydrocarbon exploration drilling in Block 2 will begin in the first quarter of 2027. This marks the first such drilling operation in Greek waters in over 50 years. Block 2 is an offshore licensed area in the broader Cretan sea region. The project is part of Greece's broader energy strategy to assess domestic hydrocarbon reserves. For visitors to Crete, no direct impact on tourism, beaches, or daily travel is expected in the near term. The drilling phase is exploratory only, meaning commercial extraction, if any, remains years away. Tourists planning trips to Crete in 2027 and beyond should not anticipate any disruption to coastal access or maritime activity from this announcement.