The main power utility PPC is expected to officially adopt a natural gas market entry and growth plan at a board meeting today with the aim of compensating for a shrinking electricity market presence.

PPC’s entry into the gas market is one of eleven strategic moves established following consulting firm advice from McKinsey, Boston Consulting and Samaras & Associates.

The power utility has lofty expectations from the plan, seen as one of its most vital and necessary market adjustments whose objective will be to partially or fully cover lost ground prompted by PPC’s bailout-required contraction in the retail electricity market and production.

In its report, McKinsey stresses that PPC needs to offer a wide range of energy services and products, including combined electricity and natural gas packages. The consulting firm believes the natural gas sector has the potential to represent approximately 70 percent of PPC’s total market value.

PPC’s initial objective will be to put a halt on shrinking sales before commencing its quest to regain lost ground.

Some 600,000 consumers are currently linked to Greece’s natural gas network while an annual growth rate of between 30,000 and 40,000 has been forecast for the next few years.