Greece is days away from a key hydrocarbons tender deadline, with the final date for binding offers set for September 10 at 5 p.m. The auction concerns four offshore blocks south of Crete and the Peloponnese known as "South of Crete I," "South of Crete II," "South of Peloponnese" and "A2." Government Cautiously Optimistic Environment and Energy Minister Stavros Papastavrou told state broadcaster ERT on September 3 that the government is "cautiously optimistic" about investor participation. "This is a tender conducted with all safeguards. It is a decisive moment to see whether the country's offshore wealth will turn into national capital for future generations," Papastavrou said, hinting at confidence while maintaining measured expectations. Chevron and HELLENiQ Seen as Likely Bidders Informal signals suggest that U.S. multinational Chevron is eyeing three of the four blocks, while Greek energy group HELLENiQ ENERGY is linked to the...