Greece now has a dedicated law for the capture, use, transport and storage of CO2. This guide sets out who decides each step, the deadlines the law fixes, and what it costs to hold a permit, with the article behind every statement.
Last updated: · Also in Greek: Δέσμευση και αποθήκευση CO2 στην Ελλάδα
| Step | Who decides | Clock or term | Provision |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capture at an installation | The authority that issues the installation's operating licence, on HEREMA's recommendation | Allowed where the operating licence includes capture | art. 5 |
| Transport through a network | The competent body of the Ministry of Environment and Energy, on HEREMA's recommendation | A transport permit is required | art. 7(1) |
| Exploration permit | HEREMA | Open call within 6 months of the area decision; at least 2 months to apply; permit for at most 5 years | art. 10 |
| Exploration by hydrocarbon licence holders, inside their area | HEREMA | Apply by 1 June 2035; decision within 6 months | art. 36 |
| Storage permit | The competent body of the Ministry of Environment and Energy, on HEREMA's recommendation, after the European Commission's opinion | Issued within 12 months of the application; valid for 20 to 25 years | arts. 12, 14, 16 |
| Use of the seabed and foreshore | Joint ministerial decision, on HEREMA's recommendation | Granted directly, without an auction, after the environmental terms decision (ΑΕΠΟ) | art. 36Α |
| Responsibility after closure | Transfers to HEREMA | Once the conditions of the law are met | art. 23 |
The framework is Law 5261/2025, published in the Government Gazette (ΦΕΚ Α΄ 231) on 12 December 2025. Its Part A, articles 1 to 41, covers capture, use, transport, liquefaction and storage of CO2, and transposes the CCS Directive, 2009/31/EC. Law 5299/2026 (ΦΕΚ Α΄ 67, 5 May 2026) corrected several of its provisions, among them articles 7, 17 and 23, and added article 36Α on the use of the seabed.
Two principles frame everything else. Exploring for and storing CO2 in geological formations is a competence that belongs exclusively to the Greek State (art. 8(1)). And a site can only be designated for storage if, under the proposed conditions of use, there is no significant risk of leakage, no significant risk to the environment or health, and no national security issue (art. 9(2)).
The CCS competent authority is the Hellenic Hydrocarbons and Energy Resources Management Company, HEREMA (Ε.Δ.Ε.Υ.Ε.Π. Α.Ε.), working with the Ministry of Environment and Energy and other public bodies where a question requires it (art. 4).
The split of powers matters for planning. HEREMA itself issues exploration permits (art. 10(1)). The storage permit and the transport permit are issued by the competent body of the Ministry of Environment and Energy, on HEREMA's recommendation (arts. 12(1) and 7(1)). Capture stays with the authority that licenses the installation: it is allowed where the installation's operating licence includes it, and HEREMA advises that authority on the capture capability and the measures needed (art. 5).
Exploration needs a permit from HEREMA, and its holder has the exclusive right to explore the site it covers (art. 10(1) and (2)). Within six months of the ministerial decision that designates the area, HEREMA issues an international open call, published in the Official Journal of the European Union, with at least two months for applications (art. 10(4)). An exploration permit lasts at most five years (art. 10(7)), and a summary is published in the Gazette within 20 days of its issue (art. 10(8)).
There is a separate route for companies that already hold hydrocarbon exploration and production rights under Law 2289/1995. Until 1 June 2035, they can apply for an exploration permit for formations inside their licensed area, supported by their existing geological, geophysical and drilling data, and HEREMA decides within six months (art. 36).
The explorer of a site has priority for its storage permit, provided it has kept to the terms of its exploration permit, completed the exploration, submitted the data, and applied before the exploration permit expires (art. 12(3)). If it loses that priority, the storage permit goes to an international open call (art. 13).
The storage permit is issued within twelve months of the application (art. 12(4)). Along the way, HEREMA notifies the European Commission of the application within one month of receiving it, and the Commission gives an opinion on the draft permit, which is not binding (art. 14(1) and (3)). The permit lasts no less than 20 and no more than 25 years from its publication in the Gazette (art. 16(1)).
Under the EU Emissions Trading System, no obligation to surrender allowances arises for emissions verified as captured and transported for permanent storage to a facility with a permit in force under the CCS Directive (Directive 2003/87/EC, art. 12(3a)). A captured tonne avoids an allowance only if it reaches a permitted store and the transfer is verified. That makes the storage permit, and the evidence chain that follows each tonne to it, the documents the business case rests on.
Once a storage site is closed, the obligations for monitoring and corrective measures, for surrendering allowances in case of leakage, and for preventive and remedial measures transfer to HEREMA. The conditions are cumulative: the evidence shows the stored CO2 is completely and permanently contained, the minimum period set by HEREMA has passed, the financial obligations are met, and the site is sealed with the injection facilities removed (art. 23(1) and (2)).
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Law 5261/2025 (ΦΕΚ Α΄ 231/12.12.2025), Part A, articles 1 to 41, as corrected and supplemented by Law 5299/2026.
HEREMA, the Hellenic Hydrocarbons and Energy Resources Management Company (art. 4). It issues exploration permits; the Ministry of Environment and Energy issues storage and transport permits on its recommendation.
The law sets twelve months from the application for its issue (art. 12(4)). It lasts between 20 and 25 years from its publication in the Gazette (art. 16(1)).
It can apply, until 1 June 2035, for an exploration permit for formations inside its licensed area, and HEREMA decides within six months (art. 36). Storage then needs a storage permit like any other site.
It gives an opinion on the draft storage permit. The opinion is not binding, but a permit that departs from it has to state the reasons (art. 14).
This page summarises provisions for information and is not legal or technical advice for a specific project. The provisions were checked in the original gazette on 5 October 2026. Only the official publication in the Government Gazette is authoritative. Ministerial decisions issued under article 40 of Law 5261/2025 set further detail, and every project is assessed on its own facts.
Permitting energy projects is a labyrinth. MitOS is the thread.
