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French Total, associated with the Americans of Exxon Mobil, the Greek Elpe and the subsidiary of EDF Edison, got three blocks in Greek sea. REUTERS / Charles Platiau

Hundreds of people demonstrated in Athens Thursday, February 21, 2019 as the government embarks on the development of the hydrocarbon sector. French Total, associated with Americans at Exxon Mobil, Elpe Greek and EDF Edison's affiliate, won three blocks at sea.

With our correspondent in Athens, Charlotte Stiévenard

According to the Greek Ministry of the Environment, developing the hydrocarbons sector should give a " new impetus to growth ". In this perspective, the Greek government has already granted concessions to oil companies in the west of the country, on land and at sea.

In the region of Epirus, exploration has already begun. Worried about the ecological consequences, hundreds of protesters gathered this Thursday, February 21 in Athens.

A political choice backwards from those of France and Italy

For Mery, unemployed, the price to pay is too high. " So to get out of the crisis, we will pollute nature, the environment, destroy everything ? She asks. Are we going to leave a planet in this state to our children, to get out of the crisis ? No, I do not accept that. "

Further on, Chara and Niki are surprised by the choices made by the Greek government, contrary to those of other European countries such as France or Italy. For them, Greece would be the ideal country to turn to other sources of energy than oil. " I know there are solar cars, for example. They just have to make it cheaper for people to have this type of car, they suggest. Here in Greece, we have sunshine all the time, we could use them. "

What worries the environmental protection associations like the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is the presence of shale gas in Greek soil. It is extracted through "fracking", a particularly polluting technique that involves injecting water and chemicals at high pressure into the soil. The Ministry of the Environment says a new law banning this practice is being prepared.

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