RAAEY, the Regulatory Authority for Waste, Energy and Water, has approved an energy-crisis  preventive action plan following revisions made through consultation.

The authority clarified that an operating-life extension granted to lignite-fired power stations is part of the Greek State’s new plan addressing energy security issues, especially following European Commission guidelines promoting a reduction of natural gas usage and an end to the continent’s reliance on Russian gas.

The plan’s original section on lignite-fired energy needed to be corrected as its text created a misconception indicating that any lignite-unit participation in the country’s generation mix is governed by a special reserve mechanism. Such a mechanism does not exist.

Power utility PPC, in consultation that preceded the preventive action plan’s approval, clarified that lignite-fired power stations, until they are withdrawn, remain registered with power grid operator IPTO and, therefore, participate in markets while also taking into account other operating obligations such as provision of regional telethermal heating.

Terms regarding the usage limits of the Revythoussa LNG terminal’s storage facilities in the event of a heightened Level 2 or 3 natural gas crisis were also modified. The initial text proposed that the maximum usage time, in the event of a crisis, be reduced to six days, but, in the finalized plan, this limit reduction was reworded to “at least six days”.