Founder & CEO, Energean
Search every verified Mathios Rigas interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. Mathios Rigas, founder and CEO of Energean, has been active in several public engagements in recent months. In a May 2026 interview with Greece’s Powergame, Rigas discussed the company’s upcoming exploration drilling in Greek waters, the first such drilling in 40 years, at the Prinos field. He stated that the probability of success for the first well is 16%, and expressed hope that the drilling could discover natural gas that might make Greece energy independent, similar to Israel’s trajectory. Rigas also said that Europe has made “tragic mistakes” in energy policy, including Germany closing its nuclear plants and Greece halting lignite production without a transition fuel in place. At the Invest in African Energy Forum 2026 in Paris in April and May 2026, Rigas outlined Energean’s expansion plans in West Africa, including a recently acquired asset in Angola from Chevron. He said the company will drill two wells in Egypt’s East Bir El Nus concession in June 2026. Rigas described Energean’s model as suited for projects that are too small for major oil companies, and urged governments not to “sit on assets that are discovered and remain undeveloped.” He also emphasized the importance of avoiding corruption, stating that as a London-listed company, Energean cannot work with middlemen or agents. Rigas noted that the company supplies 40% of a country’s gas consumption and discussed the operational challenges of maintaining safety and production amid geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
“Η Ενεργία είναι μία εταιρεία η οποία ξεκίνησε το 2007. Συγκεκριμένα γεννήθηκε τον Αύγουστο του 2007 με σκοπό τότε να αγοράσει την μοναδική ελληνική παραγωγή πετρελαίου του Πρίνου, αλλά με όραμα να δημιουργηθεί η πρώτη ελληνική εταιρεία έρευνας και παραγωγής των Υδρογοναθράκων, η οποία θα μπορούσε να αποτελέσει τον εθνι...”
“Η πιθανότητα επιτυχίας στην πρώτη γεότρηση είναι 16%. 16% για κάποιον ο οποίος δεν είναι της δουλειάς μας θεωρεί ότι είναι μία ελάχιστη πιθανότητα επιτυχίας και είναι και φυσιολογικό. Αλλά για μας αυτή είναι η δουλειά μας. Κάνουμε πολλές γεωτρήσεις. Όλες έχουνε μικρό ποσοστό επιτυχίας, αλλά όταν βρούμε αυτή η μία ή οι...”
“Ελπίζουμε να βρούμε φυσικό αέριο το οποίο μπορεί να κάνει την Ελλάδα ενεργειακά ανεξάρτητη. Ό,τι έκανε το Ισραήλ πριν από σχεδόν μία δεκαετία. Και το λέω αυτό γιατί το Ισραήλ ήταν μία χώρα η οποία έκανε εισαγωγή πετρελαίου και φυσικού αερίου με μηδενική παραγωγή. Στηριζόταν στο κάρβουνο και στην εισαγωγή από την Αίγυπτ...”
“Η Ευρώπη έχει κάνει τραγικά λάθη. Το ότι η Γερμανία έκλεισε τα πυρηνικά της, το ότι εμείς σταματήσαμε την παραγωγή ενέργειας από λιθάνθρακα, το οποίο έχουμε και παράγουμε στην Ελλάδα. Χωρίς να έχουμε βρει το μεταβατικό καύσιμο. Για μένα είναι λάθη. Τώρα τα αναγνωρίζουνε οι κυβερνήσεις τα λάθη και η Ευρώπη και οι δικές...”
In an exclusive interview with Prospect at the Invest in African Energy Forum 2026 in Paris, CEO Mathios Rigas confirmed Energean will drill two new wells in June 2026 at its onshore East Bir El Nus concession in Egypt. The upcoming campaign aligns with the company’s broader exploration strategy, centered on growing its Egyptian portfolio, expanding into West Africa and strengthening production capacity.
Mathios Rigas, outlines our next phase of our growth across West Africa and the wider EMEA region at Invest In African Energy Forum in Paris, joining leading voices from across governments and industry. Energean ’s ability to move at pace, take ownership and deliver complex projects efficiently underpins our growth into new regions, building on a strong foundation of operational excellence and long-term value creation. Energean took over a field that was 3.5 TCF in Israel, 100%, without partners, in a very unique model. We invested $3 billion alone and brought the field on stream, from award…
"In 2016 the price was about $6, and now it is down to $4.5 thanks to the competition we introduced against the monopoly that existed at the time. We need committed companies, not just impressive photos with global giants.” “The state should help those who remained committed during difficult times,” said Mathios Rigas, CEO of Energean, at the Capital Market Conference held by Calcalist and Kasem Mutual Funds from Phoenix Investment House, in a conversation with Calcalist’s Yarden Rozanski.
Ο Ρήγας Μαθιός, Διευθύνων Σύμβουλος, Όμιλος Energean στο 4ο Οικονομικό Συνέδριο της «Ν» Παρακολουθήστε το νέο κανάλι της Ναυτεμπορικής μέσω Digea, από τις πλατφόρμες της Cosmote TV και της Nova αλλά και από την ιστοσελίδα naftemporiki.gr Youtube: https://bit.ly/3eO1ugZ Twitter: https://bit.ly/3RIbTJF Instagram: https://bit.ly/3S7xScR
At African Energy Week 2025, Mohamed Fouad, the CEO of Egypt Oil and Gas and Secretary General of the Egyptian Gas & Energy Association, interviewed Mathios Rigas, CEO of Energean, in a Fireside Chat on "The Strategic Role of the Eastern Mediterranean as a Bridge Between African Energy Resources and European Markets". #AEW2025 #AfricanEnergyWeek #InvestInAfrica #InvestInAfricanEnergy
A view from Italy | L'Italia e l'Unione europea alla ricerca di nuovi partner per gli approvvigionamenti energetici, per diminuire la propria dipendenza dalla Russia. Ne parliamo con il CEO di Energean PLC Mathios Rigas. Conduce Daniele Capezzone.
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