The government has developed alternatives related to various power sources in order to ensure the adequacy of electricity, said in an interview with r / s “Sky 100.3” the Deputy Minister despite the Prime Minister and government representative, Giannis Oikonomouemphasizing that there is readiness for any possible development.
He also stated that there is coordination with our partners, but also that at this stage there is no cause for concern. Mr. Oikonomou also said that our country is working on its own National Plan for a more decisive intervention in the price of electricity and with a wider time horizon, while he reiterated that any aid will last as long as the crisis lasts.
In the same interview, the government spokesman also referred to the fuel subsidy but also to SYRIZA’s criticism of Tatoi’s exploitation.
No one can be complacent – There is nothing visible that will lead to market shortages
“We have been prepared for a long time to face any possible development. For our country at the moment there is no issue of security in supply. There is a smooth flow of supply. The country has supply contracts, both public and private, with Gazprom, which expire at the end of 2026. Our contracts are much longer, that is, than those of the countries where the problem was observed. Of course, no one can be complacent and no one can be sure that procedures that were valid in normal times will still be valid now.
We have previously worked out alternatives that have to do with different power sources. First of all, the maximization of the utilization of the facilities in Revythousa. The Prime Minister went there recently and was informed about the possibilities that exist. Second, increase LNG supply. “The providers, the largest one, DEPA, but also the other providers, as the chances of having problems increase, are already investigating every possibility”, said Mr. Oikonomou and added:
“We are fully coordinated with our partners in this blackmail, in this pressure exerted by the Russian side. When President Putin first formulated the threat, the Ministry of Energy, DEPA, worked out all the alternative scenarios for the security of the supply chain. It includes the full utilization and activation of Revythousa, LNG loads, the production of electricity from units that have the ability to run on diesel, the increase of lignite reserves.
At this stage there is no cause for concern and nothing is visible that will lead us to shortages in the market. We take our measures, no matter how things turn out. We will compensate for the loss we will have from other alternative sources both with LNG and with the possibility of energy storage.
There is no doubt that any disruption to the supply chain will have financial consequences. That is why we take our measures in a timely and fast manner, so that we have the best possible preparation. Now, but beyond that, let us always keep in mind that these phenomena are unprecedented things.
We will do everything possible to avoid reaching the point of limiting the supply of electricity, which is absolutely necessary for the operation of both households and businesses.
What is clear is that if Russia cuts off our gas, say on 20, 21/5, the country has taken measures so that we do not lower the switch. There is no way to lower the switch. There is no way we can be surprised in this direction.
Our goal is not to disrupt the supply in perpetuity. Not just for a month or two. We try to have alternative sources, so that the supply chain continues to operate normally, especially in the summer months for the tourist season, without interruptions and without problems in our operation. That’s the job we do. “
In this explosive situation we are doing what we can
Regarding the support measures of the society, Mr. Economou stated:
“The elaboration of the National Plan is underway – the Prime Minister has emphasized it many times – in parallel with the processes that are taking place at European level. In any case, what is needed is for the European Commission to implement the directive it received from the leaders and to submit its proposal. At the same time, the country is working on its own National Plan for a more decisive intervention in the price of electricity and with a wider time horizon. We are working on various scenarios and options, we are not too far from submitting this Plan. The aim is to set the price of electricity for the consumer much lower than it is today. How this will be done is being evaluated.
The reality is that we are living in a very difficult situation, in an explosive situation. The’re is no doubt. And in this explosive situation, all this time and especially lately, we are doing as much as we can, utilizing every available tool, to somewhat mitigate these effects. In March, our country was below the European Union average in terms of retail electricity price due to the assistance, the government, all the previous period and PPC. It was another 14 countries more expensive than us.
With the intervention we plan, the price of electricity for households and businesses will be even lower. This is our effort in the plan that we are working on and at the same time to have the widest possible time horizon of this intervention, but also what it can cover retrospectively “.
As he characteristically said, all scenarios are examined. “They do not only have to do with the economic dimension, they also have to do with technical characteristics. What is certain is that within the next month, and probably in parallel with the processes that will take place at European level, there will be a new intervention from our country “.
“We have further reinforcements in addition to the horizontal reinforcement” for the electricity
Regarding the power outages due to unpaid bills, Mr. Economou stressed that “the burden has fallen on the entire previous period to exhaust all the margins, so that we do not have power outages. Exhaust all the margins from PPC and all other providers. There are a number of settlement programs. Everyone realizes that increased bills are much more burdensome for households. Power outages have always occurred in the past, even when we did not have an energy crisis. The data is available to anyone and overwhelming. When one does not pay long-term electricity one is always faced with this kind of consequences. Here we have a balance that we must keep. One understands that the increases are huge and people are having a hard time. That’s exactly why there are settlement plans. Especially for the most vulnerable we have the Social Tariff. In other words, we have further reinforcements, in addition to the horizontal reinforcement that is made.
Which aid – as promised by the Prime Minister – will last as long as the crisis lasts. All the margins are exhausted, all kinds of possibilities are provided that can be provided to the world, so that we do not reach power outages. The general direction is that both the companies and PPC have a program of consumer facilitation, because we all understand that the conditions are different “.
In the fuel subsidy, the perimeter of the beneficiaries increased more
Regarding the fuel subsidy, the government spokesman said that “the people responded because they obviously need it. One must always evaluate based on the possibilities that exist what can best be done for Greek society. Especially with regard to the fuel subsidy, the perimeter of the beneficiaries has increased even more. It concerns up to 30,000 euros of income, with consumptions that cover 75% – 80% of the average consumption for the next quarter. Already, the intervention we made for diesel is horizontal and the result was a double reduction in its price, compared to what we would have if we reduced the Excise Tax to the lowest level. At the same time, however, we must look at the fiscal balance and the preservation of revenues, which are crucial for the implementation of the Budget, but also for the support and for these benefits that are given and that are necessary for the Greek society and for the weakest. ” .
Concluding, regarding SYRIZA’s criticism of Tatoi’s restoration plan, Mr. Economou stressed that “they do not withstand serious criticism. That is, I do not know if it is for laughing or crying. “
We received a situation in Tatoi, which, let me express, reminded me of a straw. This is the reality. It is a historical monument, it is a place that can be visited by people, where the activities and actions of the world can be created and it can be a pole in Athens to be visited by Greeks and those who come to our country. The government has started from September 2019, to prepare a program which will be generously funded with 75 million, with private resources, with resources from the NSRF, from the Recovery Fund, to become something substantial and very beautiful there. Prince Charles manages such a park in Great Britain, in Scotland, the Prime Minister went there at his invitation.
The scripts that are circulating are science fiction. “When Mr. Tsipras had welcomed Prince Charles with his wife in Athens, the regime did not change”, said Mr. Oikonomou.
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