A government plan entailing the development of Meliti II, a second coal-fired power station for the main power utility PPC in the Meliti area, close to Florina in the country’s north, will go ahead, the utility’s chief executive Manolis Panagiotakis has reassured in comments offered to energypress.

The project’s prospects were shaken following remarks made yesterday by energy minister Giorgos Stathakis, who declared that a new tender will need to be staged for the nearby Vevi coal mine license as, according to the minister, a previous competition did not comply with regulations.

Presumably, CMEC (China Machinery Engineering Corporation), currently examining the prospect of developing the Meliti II unit, would not get involved if coal supply from the Vevi mine is not assured.

The state-controlled PPC boss noted that he recognized the need for a new Vevi tender, while expressing confidence that this development would not affect the government’s decision to collaborate with CMEC for the development of Meliti II.