Energy minister Kostas Skrekas has requested swifter support from the European Commission, in the form of a comfort letter, on a plan concerning Greece’s new RES auctions, as well as auctions for the installation of hybrid stations on islands.

The minister made the request to European Commission deputy Margrethe Vestager, also Brussel’s Commissioner for Competition, during an online meeting between the two officials on Friday.

During the session, Vestager is believed to have expressed satisfaction over Athens’ implementation of a plan offering third parties access to state-controlled power utility PPC’s lignite-fired power production, an issue that had remained unresolved for many years.

PPC sold a first electricity package at a discount price on Friday, as part of the government’s agreement with the European Commission.

Greece’s energy minister also urged for efficient cooperation with the Directorate General for Competition on an ongoing effort aiming for the introduction, by the end of the year, of a Strategic Reserve mechanism.

The mechanism is planned to compensate PPC for its maintenance, as grid back-up, of lignite-fired power stations headed for withdrawal. The availability of these units is still needed to ensure grid sufficiency and stability.