The draft law “Framework for the Promotion of Biomethane Production, Rules for Organizing the Market of Hydrogen Production and Geographically Limited Hydrogen Networks – Partial Integration of Directive (EU) 2024/1788 and other provisions for environmental protection” was submitted to Parliament. As stated in the report, “The proposed draft law is a necessary step in regulating the production of biomethane and hydrogen in the country, by importing, for the first time, provisions that will allow the installation and operation of hydrogen and biomethane units and their connection to the ESFA, or a Network of the European Gas, Commission, on March 8, 2022, “Repowereu: Common European Action for more affordable, secured and sustainable energy”, as well as the Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2024, “on common rules for internal renewable gas markets, gas and hydrogen. 2023/1791 and the abolition of Directive 2009/73/EC “(Series L), which is partially incorporated”.

The purpose of the draft law, as stated, is to form the production and participation of biomethane and hydrogen (renewable hydrogen and low carbonated hydrogen), as renewable gases, in the energy mix of the country, to achieve the targets. 6983), in the broader framework for redevelopment and differentiation of energy sources. In this direction, a comprehensive and cohesive legislation for the production of biomethane and hydrogen is introduced and their influence on the National Gas System (ESFA) or the Natural Gas Distribution Networks (distribution networks), their disposal to final customers or non -connecting customers. At the same time, the injection of hydrogen is regulated into geographically limited hydrogen networks (GEPED).

National network

The draft law of the Ministry of Environment and Energy have also included arrangements to accelerate the implementation of the project of the recovery and resilience fund “Creating a National Network of Trails and Hiking Routes”, “through the simplification of the administrative process for the approval and conclusion of the necessary programming”. For projects that fall, in whole or in part, in forests or forests, it is foreseen the exemption from the obligation to obtain an opinion of the Technical Council of Forests, as defined in Article 57 (13) of Law 2218/1994 (A ’90), “for the reasons of acceleration of the procedure by safeguarding the implementation of the forestry, Forest services.

Water scarcity

The bill determines the procedure for declaring an area under emergency water scarcity and the water supply and sewer company (EYDAP SA) as well as the Thessaloniki Water Supply and Sewerage Company may be appointed to be appointed. Projects, Studies, Supplies or Services contracts that are not subject to their responsibilities, provided that their subject is directly linked to the construction or restoration of critical infrastructure to prevent or address the consequences arising from water scarcity. Also provided are the required authorizations regarding:

– Procedure for the competition procedures and the assignment of the monitoring of the execution of the above contracts to the Hellenic Company

– Establishment of working groups by employees of the above companies, experts or experts, to study and monitor specific issues related to the subject of the relevant contracts

– Concluding project leasing contracts for recruitment to the aforementioned scientific or other staff companies, which will be employed in dealing with the emergency water scarcity.

A contract between EYDAP is also permitted. SA or EYATH SA and the relevant Municipal Water and Sewerage Company or the relevant OTA. Grade first that provides water supply services, which assigned the companies in question, to take the measures necessary to address the emergency water scarcity. At the same time, it is envisaged that investments directly linked to the construction of critical infrastructure to prevent or address the consequences arising from water scarcity, provided that they are the subject of public contracts of Law 4412/2016, are integrated into the category of “automatically integrated strategic investment”. SA or EYATH SA, applicable to the relevant provisions of Law 4864/2021 on location incentives, rapid authorization, judicial resolution of the relevant disputes, etc.

As stated in the report, “the increase in water supply needs in recent years is intense. The water needs for 2021 (according to the National Drinking Water Plan of the Ministry of Environment and Energy) amount to 1,037 million cubic meters, indicating about 50%of water losses. Risk of water scarcity, due to climate change, which has consequences, both on supply (decrease in rainfall) and in demand (increased consumption for irrigation and general uses). (https://www.wri.org/data/aqueduct-40-Country-rankings). percent (80% – from 3,453 million cubic meters per year to 6,221), while the use of surface water was reduced by forty percent (40% – 3,852 million cubic meters in 2022 versus 6,471 million cubic meters in 2000). evolves. “

The bill extends deadlines referring to:

– term of office of Architectural Councils and Planning Councils and Councils

– Continuing to implement building permits, with the payment of an environmental fee, without the need to be completed, in cases where the bearing organization has been completed, other approvals, opinions or backgrounds to the State or OTAs. (No. 68, 69 of Law 5197/2025)

– conducting building permits on Thira and Thirasia Islands

– Suspension of issuing building permits in areas of the island of Mykonos as well as building work in Ymittos.