The country’s energy system has been placed on Level 2 Alert, prompting a crisis management team at RAE, the Regulatory Authority for Energy, to convene yesterday for marathon talks that are expected to be followed up today with an additional session involving major-scale energy consumers.

Greece’s energy level alert already appears to be heading towards normalization as a result of two key factors.

DEPA, the Public Gas Corporation, has managed to swiften the delivery date of a major 130,000 cubic-meter LNG order. Its delivery, originally due to arrive at the country’s LNG terminal in Revythoussa, an islet just off Athens, on December 26, has been rescheduled for December 24.

The significant level of Greece’s renewable energy (RES) output has also proved crucial to avert a bigger crisis. The wind energy sector is today expected to contribute a precious 32,000 MWh electricity amount to the energy system. Market sources informed energypress that this amount is literally keeping the energy system standing.

According to the day’s grid plan, natural gas-fueled power stations are scheduled to provide significant electricity amounts, while most of PPC’s lignite-fired power stations, as well as hydropower facilities, are being called into action.

Demand for natural gas, expected to be particularly high today, is forecast to reach 227,000 MWh.

These extraordinary conditions, also expected to apply pressure on the system tomorrow, should be back to normal on Saturday when a major 130,000 cubic-meter LNG load, supplied by Algerian energy firm Sonatrach, is set to arrive.

Officials at today’s follow-up RAE meeting will further evaluate the situation and decide whether additional measures are required.

An energy-level crisis in the French market has significantly contributed to an increase of Greek exports. Local officials have requested that export limits be imposed as a result of the increased pressure being encountered by the Greek system. However, such a solution is viewed as one that contravenes EU principles.