In order to replace the natural gas which by 40-50% comes from Russia, there is a provision for the transport of liquefied LNG in record time with two ships at the same time to the Revythoussa facilities
For a national intervention plan concerning the adequacy and affordable prices of natural gas, the Minister of Environment and Energy spoke, Kostas Skrekas speaking on the show “Connections” on ERT.
“We are even studying the scenario of a total shutdown”
“The uncertainty caused by the closure of the Nord Stream 1 northern corridor had to be taken into account. If the operation resumes after ten days of maintenance, the price of natural gas will fall, but if it is instrumentalized by the Russian president, then Europe will be threatened, as the German chancellor also said,” Kostas Skrekas said.
“We are even studying the scenario of a total shutdown,” said the minister, and in particular it is being considered:
- In order to replace the natural gas which by 40-50% comes from Russia, there is a provision for transporting liquefied LNG in record time with two ships at the same time to the Revythoussa facilities.
- More liquefied natural gas could be flown back through the TAP pipeline from Italy which already has processes in place to store a large amount
- Alongside the forecast for the use of more diesel is the “return to lignite”
“In the last three years, the Greek government managed with 5,000 megawatts of new renewable energy sources to save imports of over 1.7 billion in natural gas,” said Kostas Skrekas according to which lignite power generation is cheaper today but not if the natural gas prices, as it is burdened by the carbon tax.
Consumers will know electricity price and subsidy
In the first two days, 30 million euros were recovered from the new mechanism, which is “a huge Greek intervention in the market for a ceiling on the compensation of power plants”, said the Minister of the Environment. We recover hundreds of millions every month and send them to the Energy Transition Fund, he added, clarifying that Greece got an exception and applies its own mechanism.
As of August 1, the mathematical formula used to determine the price through the readjustment clause stops. The suppliers are obliged to declare what the billing price will be each month and then the state will announce the subsidy, while the possibility to change provider is given free of charge.
“We wanted to ensure that consumers would know the price of electricity and the subsidy,” said Kostas Skrekas.
“Europe cannot turn a blind eye”
The energy crisis, which may turn out to be bigger than the pandemic, will cost the European economy too much. Germany and Western Europe have the big problem as there households are heated with natural gas, unlike Greece, said the minister and reminded:
“First, the Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, submitted a timely proposal to the Council of Europe for a ceiling on natural gas prices and it seems to be gaining ground. Now they see that their own societies are also in trouble and Europe cannot turn a blind eye while vulnerable households are threatened.”
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