RAE, the Regulatory Authority for Energy, acting on a European Commission request, has begun an examination process to determine if a strategic agreement between the Copelouzos group and China’s state-run CHN Energy for the latter’s acquisition of wind energy parks creates any EU regulation issues regarding fellow state-run SGCC’s (State Grid Corporation of China) recent 24 percent stake buy into Greek power grid operator, authority sources have informed energypress.

RAE has been asked to examine whether CHN Energy’s agreement to buy Copelouzos wind energy farms with a total capacity of 1,500 MW violates an EU directive concerning the separation of a single entity’s activities in energy production, supply and transmission, according to the same sources.

In essence, RAE is being asked to inspect IPTO’s current certification as a result of SGCC’s purchase of a stake in the Greek operator before determining whether a follow-up certification process will be needed.

Much ground needs to be covered before the strategic agreement reached between the Copelouzos group and CHN Energy turns into an actual deal, the RAE sources told energypress.

The European Commission’s intervention is also linked to CHN Energy’s interest in the main power utility PPC’s ongoing sale of the Meliti and Megalopoli lignite-fired power stations, part of a bailout-required sale of PPC lignite units, the sources admitted.