Connecting Greek islands on the Aegean Sea to Turkish electricity grids may help overcoming recent political problems between the two countries, Greek Energy Minister Giorgos Papaconstantinou tells the media.

The Greek Energy Ministry's new plan to tap into Turkish grids to meet Greek islands' electricity needs could boost flagging Ankara-Athens relations that have been strained by offshore Greek Cypriot gas exploration, Greece's energy minister has said.

"We have talked with Turkish officials previously on connecting Greek Islands to Turkey for electricity and we are still considering this," Giorgos Papaconstantinou, Greece's energy and environment minister, said on the sidelines of the Atlantic Council Black Sea Energy and Economic Forum in Istanbul.

"We have always wanted to connect the island to mainland Greece, but there is a possibility that we might connect islands to Turkish grids." The minister said the move may be more affordable and efficient for Greece.

Speaking about the tensions related to Greek Cyprus' offshore exploration, Papaconstantinou said, "I can see the nervousness of Turkey, but it will recede with time."

Turkey's state run oil company's decision to ink a deal for onshore and offshore exploration with Dutch energy giant Shell next week is "no threat for Greece," he added.

As long as the exploration is carried out according to international laws, "Turkey should go ahead," the Greek minister said.