The intervention of the Minister of Environment and Energy, Costas Skrekas, was provoked by a recent letter from PPC to IPTO and with a notification to his office about the problems faced by lignite production so that it is fully available during the difficult next three months of winter.
This is stated by OT.gr sources, on the occasion of the meeting convened by the Minister of Energy for the energy adequacy of the country and which will be attended by the Chairman of the Crisis Management Committee Dimitris Fourlaris, executives of IPTO and DESFA, PPC and independent power generators.
In the midst of the crisis of the electricity and gas markets in the EU, PPC, according to information, announced a series of difficulties faced by lignite-fired power plants. Lignite power plants, it is recalled, played a key role in preventing blackouts during summer emergencies, while participating in the current season with a percentage of 9% and 14% in the energy mix for electricity generation. The not so favorable data for the greater penetration of RES, have brought lignite back to the forefront of energy security and while the government is launching the closure of factories in Western Macedonia and Arcadia.
The letter
As far as sources are aware, PPC in its letter to IPTO and the Energy Minister describes the difficulties faced by lignite plants in order to produce the required quantities of electricity. For example, “Meliti” does not have sufficient quantities of lignite in its “yard”, the lignite mining in the mines of Megalopolis is facing problems with the rains, while the public company is said to be requesting an exception for the operation of the unit “Agios Dimitrios 5” before the completion of the desulphurisation program.
The aforementioned problems, according to the same sources, were caused by the reduction of the maintenance of the units and the preparation of the mines for the extraction of more quantities of lignite. And the obstacles were created after the decisions for the de-lignification and the planning of PPC to close its factories. So, in the period before the outbreak of the summer crisis and now of the energy crisis, the company was guided by the termination of the operation of its units.
Thus, these issues come to the fore at a particularly difficult time for the country’s security of power supplies.
Other uncertainties
According to sources, the uncertainties of the adequacy of water in the reservoirs of the hydroelectric production as well as the possibility of ensuring electricity imports at any time will be on the table of today’s meeting.
Read also: Strategic cooperation between PPC – Microsoft
Sources want the reservoirs of PPC’s hydroelectric stations to be at low levels due to the drought, so it is a big question whether the water is easy to use at any time.
Something similar happens with imports. And this as the energy crisis hits other neighboring countries.
Natural gas
The conditions for the production of electricity from natural gas are considered satisfactory.
The last auctions of DESFA for the allocation of spaces in the tanks of Revythousa, in order to store quantities of LNG, closed positively. Producers and suppliers of natural gas rushed and secured relevant premises, with the result that by 2022 there are alternative quantities of natural gas.
In addition, private power generators are said to be committed to the full operation of their units.
Latest News
Lavrio Port Authority Next Up for Privatization
A deadline for the submission of expressions of interest is May 14, 2024
Eurostat: Greece Records Largest Drop in Natural Gas Prices in 2nd Half of 2023
The price of electricity and natural gas in Europe was down following a substantial surge that began before the Russian invasion of Ukraine and peaked in 2022
GEK TERNA Still Considers Leveraging Concessions Portfolio as Financial Tool
President and CEO of Gek Terna George Peristeris explained the company's plans on Tuesday on the sidelines of the inauguration of sections of Greece's E65 highway
NielsenIQ: 3% Supermarket Revenue Increase in Q1
Private label products are gaining traction, comprising 25.4% of shopping basket shares, up from 24.7%
Store Hours Change Today in Observation of Orthodox Easter
The President of the Athens Chamber of Commerce hopes the Easter period will provide a much-needed boost to retail traffic in the capital
Athens-area Mass Transit Systems Set to Finally Install Contact-less Fare Payment
Paying fares via bank cards, smartphones and smartwatches in all mass transit systems in the Greek capital, namely, buses, trolleys, the metro and tram lines, is scheduled by the end of the year
Council of State Rejects Motion Against Thessaloniki Motorway Project
The motion was filed earlier this month by three local citizens’ and environmental groups and generated a high court decision for a temporary stay in construction
Greek 30Y Bond Issue Oversubscribed by 11 Times
Very high demand pushed down the coupon's interest rate to 4.125%
Athens Int’l Airport Wins Top Prize at Routes Europe Awards
The Routes business is focused entirely on aviation route development and the company's portfolio includes events, media and online businesses
IOBE: Income Gap Between Poor and Wealthy Greeks Widens
The findings in the analysis, entitled “Progressivity in Income Taxation in Greece, 2012-2021", paint a bleak picture for Greeks in the bottom half of the income bracket, warning that income inequality is growing