The country’s energy system was raised to Level 2 Alert today as a result of the increased demand for electricity and natural gas prompted by freezing weather condition around the country over the past few days.

The Greek energy system also needed to be raised to Level 2 Alert just prior to the festive season. This move was attributed to the temporary closure of French nuclear power stations, which caused an energy supply crisis in the wider region.

DESFA, the natural gas grid operator, raised its warning system to Level 2 Alert today after concluding that existing LNG reserves at the terminal facility on Revythoussa, an islet just off Athens, are insufficient to cover demand until the arrival of an extraordinary LNG shipment scheduled to arrive on Wednesday.

DEPA, the Public Gas Corporation, has secured emergency LNG orders from Algeria, while no problems have been reported in the delivery of natural gas from Russia’s Gazprom, via Sidirokastro, northeastern Greece, and Turkey’s Botas, via Kipous in Evros, also in the northeast. Even so, the extraordinarily high demand for energy registered over the past few days amid persisting low temprarures has forced local authorities to re-raise the energy system to Level 2 Alert.