Athens, 12 April 2022 (dpa/MIA) - Greece is to investigate five potential undersea gas fields to the west of the Greek mainland and to the south-west of Crete in the next year, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said in Athens on Tuesday. There was a further possible gas field on the mainland, Mitsotakis said. He noted that Greek consumers were facing increases in the price of gas as a result of the war in Ukraine and reaction to it. Greece currently imports 40% of its gas requirement from Russia and is seeking to reduce its dependence on Russian gas. "If we can pursue the exploitation of our own energy resources and with a bit of luck discover viable gas fields, we can make ourselves less dependent in the area of energy," Mitsotakis said. Greece was also aiming to be be a hub for the storage and transport of gas to Europe, he said. The potential gas fields have already been identified. The energy companies, France's Total and Exxon based in the United States, were tasked with investigating the finds in 2019. The Greek company Hellenic Petroleum has also secured exploration licences. Environmental organizations have raised the alarm about the plans, noting that they concern popular tourist destinations and also important habitats for turtles, dolphins and seals.