The first round of a market test staged by gas grid operator DESFA for a prospective expansion of the country’s gas transmission network has attracted 27 non-binding bids, deemed, by the operator, as a satisfactory level of participation that includes high-profile players, energypress sources have informed.

The procedure’s participants include a wide range of major Greek and foreign players, from large-scale consumers to gas transit companies and traders who view the Greek system as a gateway for the transportation of gas to central Europe. A considerable number of companies operating in the Balkan market are among the DESFA market test’s first-round participants.

It remains to be seen if this high level of first-round interest will develop into binding second-round bids.

Initial bids will soon be assessed over a three-stage process, beginning with an evaluation of bid levels, followed by technical analysis, expected to take two months until mid-July, and, finally, tariff plan feasibility, based on infrastructure to be deemed as necessary by DESFA.

The market test’s second round of binding bids is expected to start around September and run until late spring in 2024, as originally scheduled by DESFA when it launched the procedure last March.