Atlantic SEE, the joint venture between DEPA Commercial and AKTOR Group, is in talks to secure long-term natural gas supply agreements with at least six countries in Southeast Europe, building on a series of preliminary agreements already signed in the region, company sources said on Wednesday.

The discussions were disclosed on the sidelines of an event announcing long-term agreements to supply Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina with U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) via Greece’s gas infrastructure.

The countries under discussion include Romania, Moldova, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Hungary and North Macedonia, where a new interconnector pipeline is expected to enter operation in 2027.

Atlantic SEE Chief Executive Alexandros Exarchou said memorandums of understanding signed with Ukraine, Bulgaria and Romania are expected to be converted into definitive agreements by the end of the year.

The planned deals would give practical effect to the Vertical Gas Corridor initiative, a regional project aimed at supplying Southeast European markets with LNG imported through Greece’s regasification facilities at Alexandroupolis and Revithoussa.

Company officials said the agreements with Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina are the first and, so far, only long-term natural gas sales contracts signed in the region that include payment guarantees covering the entire duration of the agreements.

The contracts, which were announced earlier this week, have a duration of 20 years beginning in 2030. U.S. LNG producer Venture Global will supply the gas, with contracted volumes amounting to 1.5 billion cubic metres (bcm) annually.

Atlantic SEE sources said the European Union could face tighter gas supply conditions next winter as Russian gas continues to be phased out of the European market ahead of a complete ban scheduled for autumn 2027.

At the same time, they noted that global LNG supply could remain constrained as Qatar’s export capacity has yet to fully recover following disruptions linked to the recent Gulf crisis.

By contrast, the sources said Greece remains well positioned thanks to its diversified supply portfolio, which combines long-term pipeline contracts with access to spot LNG cargoes.

The growing contribution of renewable energy to Greece’s power mix has also strengthened the country’s energy security, they added, pointing to the resilience demonstrated during the recent market volatility triggered by tensions in the Gulf.

However, they cautioned that higher natural gas prices cannot be ruled out, particularly during the winter months when seasonal demand increases.

Market participants are also expressing cautious optimism ahead of a July 6 auction for long-term gas transit capacity from the Greek transmission system to northern markets.

The auction will offer shippers the opportunity to reserve capacity on a longer-term basis, including annual bookings, under the framework of the Vertical Gas Corridor.

Industry sources attribute the positive sentiment to lower transit tariffs agreed by regional operators following pressure led primarily by Greece, as well as the growing need among Southeast European countries to diversify gas supplies and secure access to alternative import routes.