EVIKEN, the Association of Industrial Energy Consumers, and the main power utility PPC have both raised sustainability-related objections to a gas network expansion plan covering 18 municipalities in northern and central Greece, included by gas distributor DEDA in its five-year development plan.

Participating in public consultation staged by DEDA, EVIKEN pointed out that the gas distributor’s five-year plan makes no mention of the impact on distribution network surcharges.

RAE, the Regulatory Authority for Energy, has already endorsed distribution network surcharges for central Greece, a region of heightened industrial activity. The area’s gas network is already developed but will be expanded. RAE will need to ensure that existing network charges are not increased to cover the cost of the network’s expansion, the industrial consumers association stressed in its intervention.

PPC also raised sustainability concerns regarding the gas network’s expansion to previously non-serviced areas.

RAE is expected to approve DEDA’s five-year development plan by October 10, when the gas distributor, a wholly-owned subsidiary of DEPA, the public gas corporation, plans to proceed with tenders for the development of the natural gas networks.

The DEDA tenders are planned to cover all development aspects of the projects, including procurement, project management and construction. A total of 11 or 12 tenders are being planned.