The energy ministry is preparing a legislative revision for its recent antitrust agreement with the European Commission, requiring state-controlled power utility PPC to make available lignite-fired electricity packages to rival suppliers.

The antitrust agreement, already launched by PPC and designed to break its lignite monopoly, requires the utility to offer quarterly lignite-fired electricity packages from September 10, 2021 to December 31, 2024, if still needed.

Details in the plan forbid PPC to conduct back-to-back agreements with rival suppliers, or sale and repurchase of lignite quantities.

According to the plan, PPC, from the fourth quarter of 2021 until 3Q in 2022, must offer rival suppliers lignite-generated electricity quantities representing 50 percent of generation in the corresponding quarters a year earlier.

The upcoming legislative revision will spare PPC from needing to split away lignite divisions into two new companies for subsequent sale, as had been stipulated by legislation ratified by the country’s previous administration.

All existing lignite facilities in Greece are expected to have been withdrawn by the end of 2023, according to the country’s decarbonization plan.