New Brussels-required energy strategy committee imminent

A special committee to be charged with preparing a new national strategic energy plan required by the European Commission is expected to be established within February through a ministerial council decision.

This committee is needed as a result of the European Commission’s recently presented “winter package”, requiring all EU member states to prepare national energy and climate strategies within 2017. Targets looking ahead to 2030 are expected.

According to energypress, the procedure for the establishment of the Greek committee has been prepared.

The committee’s national energy and climate strategy will need to take into account new conditions and needs, offer solutions to the country’s energy portfolio and determine investment and infrastructure development needs, all within an EU context.

The strategy will also need to provide guidelines for further renewable energy sector growth; a balanced energy production technology mix; energy efficiency improvement; increased conventional energy source diversification through development of natural gas pipelines as well as natural gas and oil storage facilities; and development of interconnections and digital networks.

New market systems, including secondary markets, for both the natural gas and oil sectors will also be included in the national strategy.