Crete-Athens link tender announcement seen 1Q of 2019

Power grid operator IPTO, given the green light by RAE, the Regulatory Authority for Energy, for the development of the Crete-Athens grid interconnection, despite European Commission objections, is pressing ahead and expects to receive approval of its related environmental studies in two to three months before launching a tender by March, 2019.

IPTO, currently progressing based on a schedule set by RAE, has completed various preliminary work, including deep-sea studies, and aims to complete the project by September, 2022.

Greek authorities are planning to keep the main power utility PPC’s diesel-fired power stations on Crete running beyond an end-of-2019 limit set by Brussels to avert an energy supply threat on the island, as was made known earlier this week by energy minister Giorgos Stathakis. His ministry has submitted a related application to Brussels for a deadline extension.

RAE is believed to still be considering various alternative options, including a proposal from Qatar for 200-MW capacity electricity supply to the island via an LNG tanker and generation facility. The cost of this option is believed to equal that of keeping PPC’s current stations running.

A proposal by energy firm Terna entailing the transfer of its gas-fueled Heron I unit, located on the outskirts of Thebes, to Crete is also still on the cards.

Euroasia Interconnector, a consortium of Cypriot interests heading a wider PCI-status project planned to link the Greek, Cypriot and Israeli power grids, has contested with IPTO for control of the wider project’s Crete-Athens segment.