By Penelope Galliou
Her pawns in energy chessboard repositioned by the government, after Russia’s new moves to close its taps natural gas to Poland and Bulgariachanging again the terms of the “energy game” that were valid until now.
The news made around the world, changing the data of energy efficiency in the two European countries and caused domino turbulence all over Europe, also signaled an alarm at the Maximos Palace where an extraordinary meeting was convened under the Prime Minister with the leadership of the Ministry of Environment and Energy. There, all the new data was put on the table and all possible scenarios for dealing with them were examined, emitting moderately optimistic messages.
The advantageous position of Greece
Government officials assured that there is no question of energy adequacy for Greece, “Greece is and will remain safe” They noted that it is estimated that there will be no disruption in the supply of our country, as there are safety valves, which are based on the moves already made by the Greek government to meet domestic needs.
Crucial role also in action and reaction of European countries he also plays payment time of contracts for Russian gas, with Greece clearly in an advantageous position, since our country’s payments concern the last ten days of May. A time when payments from other countries will have preceded, while it is estimated that the common EU formula will have been found, regarding the handling of Vladimir Putin’s new blackmail and the way payments will be made to Russia, without the sanctions already imposed by European leaders are being violated.
The Greek movements
The Greek government and the Ministry of Energy, since the outbreak of the war crisis in Ukraine, have prepared a detailed plan of energy efficiency of the country, trying to cover even the most unfavorable scenarios. “We are fully coordinated with our partners in this blackmail, in this pressure exerted by the Russian side. When President Putin first posed the threat, the Ministry of Energy, DEPA, worked out all the alternative scenarios for its security. supply chain ” the government spokesman told SKAI.
In this context, a series of actions has been launched such as:
- Increase the capacity of Revythousa through the lease of an extra floating tank, so that the capacity rises from 225,000 to 375,000 cubic meters. This means that they will be able to unload 2 and not 1 ship with LNG.
- 50% increase in lignite mining for the next two years
- Maximum RES contribution to the energy mix
- 5 power plants (2 of PPC, 3 private suppliers) that run on natural gas can run directly on diesel
- Increase gas storage, where possible e.g. Italy
- In the medium term, the possibility of increasing the gas supply from the Azeri TAP.
Government officials even assured that in no case will the country be allowed to face a problem of gas supply and everything necessary will be done in this direction. “We have long been prepared to face any possible development” The government spokesman assured that “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, and the State and individuals, with the 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 continue to be valid now,” he concluded.
The meeting was attended by Minister of Environment and Energy Costas Skrekas, the Ministers of State George Gerapetritis and Akis Skertsos, The Undersecretary to the Prime Minister and Government Spokesman Giannis OikonomouThe Secretary General of the Prime Minister Grigoris Dimitriadis and Permanent Representative of Greece to the European Union, Ambassador Ioannis Vrailas.
Also present were the President of RAE Thanos Dagoumas, the CEO of DEPA Konstantinos Xifaras, the President and CEO of PPC George Stassis, the Deputy Government Representative Aristotelia Pelonis, the Head of the Office of the Chief Financial Officer Press conference of Prime Minister Dimitris Tsiodras.
Support in Bulgaria
THE Kyriakos Mitsotakis after the energy blockade of Poland and Bulgaria by Russia, had a telephone conversation with the Prime Minister of the neighboring country Kirill Petkov. During the communication, the Greek Prime Minister stated that Greece will assist Bulgaria in dealing with the new situation caused to the country by the Russian decisions in the energy sector. In fact, in the context of solidarity, Greece is expected to fill part of its neighbor’s gaps in natural gas with the Revythousa facilities. Besides Revythousa which is the gateway to the LNG for our country, a month ago, Bulgaria used it again in the context of the moves to strengthen the supply of the country with natural gas.
The reactions of the parties
To ensure the energy efficiency of the country, they called on the government and the opposition parties after the meeting at the Maximos Palace with the PASOK- KINAL to place responsibilities on ND and him SYRIZA claiming that “they froze domestic hydrocarbon exploration and disproportionately tied the country to imported gas, making it energy vulnerable at the most critical moment.” He also called on the government “to ensure the country’s energy efficiency and to proceed with the necessary infrastructure in networks and interconnections through the resources of the Recovery Fund, the utilization of renewable energy sources and their diffusion through energy communities to households, farmers and businesses”.
The immediate and complete reopening of lignite plants, without the commitments of the stock exchange of pollutants, which artificially increase the price of lignite, as well as the abolition of the Energy Exchange, was requested by the government, among others. KKE.
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