Energy ministry officials have begun talks, at a technical level, not political, with creditor representatives for prior actions needed as part of the second review of Greece’s bailout program.

These early talks are still at an informative stage. Though no obstacles are anticipated down the road, a trouble-free process cannot be guranteed.

Besides a decision to be reached today by RAE, the Regulatory Authority for Energy, on the RES-supporting ETMEAR surcharge, expected to slightly increase for energy-intensive industries and fall for households, a variety of other issues are on the agenda.

These include gas market’s liberalization procedures. Issues such as DEPA (Public Gas Corporation) gas auction starting prices still need to be determined following a gas release decision, or increased gas amounts to be offered by the corporation to traders through its auctions. Also, procedures concerning the division of distribution and supply activities, as well as DEPA’s role in the country’s new natural gas market being developed, need to be addressed.

Developments concerning an international tender for the sale of a 24 percent stake of IPTO, the power grid operator – the deadline for binding bids expires tomorrow – are also on the agenda.

So, too, are the NOME auctions, scheduled to be launched on October 25 with a 460 MW package to be offered to suppliers. The NOME auctions are intended to provide third parties with access to PPC’s low-cost lignite and hydropower sources as a measure to help break the utility’s market dominance and reduce its market share to less than 50 percent by 2019.