Diesel totaling 500,000 cubic meters part of emergency plan

A total of approximately 500,000 cubic meters of diesel will be required by five natural gas-fueled power stations to run on diesel should Russian gas supply be totally disrupted, authorities involved in the country’s emergency energy plan have estimated.

The turn to diesel, along with lignite, is part of the country’s wider emergency plan. The strategy’s diesel refueling effort at the five power stations, a procedure to last 16 hours a day over a period of between 100 and 120 days, is feasible, officials representing the Hellenic Petroleum (ELPE) and Motor Oil refineries informed an energy ministry meeting yesterday that also involved RAE, the Regulatory Authority for Energy.

The refinery officials believe the emergency plan’s additional capacity required for a three-month period from January through March, 2023, seen is a crucial period, is feasible, despite heightened diesel demand expected in the industrial sector.

Logistical issues stand as the plan’s biggest challenge as the refineries will need to ensure uninterrupted overland diesel supply to power utility PPC’s power station in Komotini, northeastern Greece, and Elpedison’s facility in Thisvi, northwest of Athens, both geographically demanding as a fleet of fuel trucks will need to be assembled for overland supply to the two units. The number of trucks and this supply plan’s cost remain undetermined.

PPC’s power station in Lavrio, southeast of Athens, and Elpedison’s power station in Thessaloniki do not face such issues as both these facilities are situated close to ports.