Albania

IPTO, Albania’s OST discuss transmission line progress

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The administrations of Greek power grid operator IPTO and the Albanian transmission system operator OST have just held talks in Tirana to discuss the progress of a new 400 kV overhead transmission line being developed between the two countries.

According to an announcement, technical teams of the two operators will work closely to accelerate the project’s development. The need for close cooperation for swifter progress was highlighted during the meeting.

In addition, the meeting’s participants examined ways to increase interconnectivity between the two countries, an issue that also concerns the wider western Balkans region.

The two operators agreed on establishing technical teams to study how increasing RES penetration and the development of domestic and international interconnections are creating further needs for grid capacity boosts.

These technical teams will be expected to start work, in the coming months, on joint studies with a view to adopting a common approach for strengthening existing interconnections and creating new ones in the region.

IPTO lists updated completion dates for grid links in 10-yr plan

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Power grid operator IPTO has revised its time frames for the completion of a series of international grid interconnections, as well that of a project to connect Crete and Athens, in a draft of its new ten-year development plan covering 2025 to 2034, forwarded for public consultation yesterday.

Revisions included in the plan’s draft include the addition of a further two years for the delivery of a second Greek-Turkish electrical grid interconnection, previously set for completion in 2029 but now pushed out to 2031.

The completion target for a second Greek-Albanian grid interconnection was changed to 2031 from 2030.

Delivery of an additional Greek-Italian grid interconnection has been set for 2031. IPTO’s previous development plan did not include a completion date for this project, which indicates significant progress was achieved during the intermediate period.

A project to interconnect the Greek, Cypriot and Israeli grids has been set a 2029 completion date for its Greece-Cyprus segment, an 898-km stretch, from 2027 in the previous plan. IPTO was placed at the helm of this project only last year.

All required studies have been completed for this project’s Greece-Cyprus segment with 657 million euros in support funds provided by the Connecting Europe Facility.

The completion date for an upgrade of the Greece-North Macedonia grid interconnection has remained unchanged at 2030.

The IPTO development plan’s international section also includes two new projects, a Greek-German grid link dubbed the Green Aegean Interconnector, and a Greek-Saudi Arabian grid link named the Saudi Greek Interconnector.

New meeting in March for west Balkans energy integration

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Next steps to be taken for the interconnection of electricity markets in the western Balkans are expected to be discussed during a new teleconference involving regulators from Greece, Albania, Kosovo and North Macedonia in March, energypress sources have informed.

The meeting is part of an initiative launched last November with the aim of interconnecting Balkan electricity markets through a process involving regulators, operators and energy exchanges from the respective countries.

In the lead-up to the March meeting, RAAEY, the Regulatory Authority for Waste, Energy and Water, has called a teleconference for next week with power grid operator IPTO and the Greek energy exchange so that a Greek position on the west Balkans grid interconnection initiative may be established.

According to well-informed sources, the timetable, at least for now, can only be roughly defined given the immaturity of markets concerned. However, there is considerable interest in seeing this market integration initiative through, while involvement of US authorities is crucial, the sources added.

The initiative is being guided by direct and indirect involvement of US authorities such as the US National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC), the US Energy Association (USEA), research institute RTI International, and the US Agency for International Development (USAID).

The west Balkans energy integration process is expected to be based on a model adopted for Greece’s market coupling with Italy and Bulgaria.

 

 

 

 

Doubled TAP capacity by 2030, not 2027 as initially planned

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A Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) plan to double the pipeline’s capacity to 20 billion cubic meters by 2027 now appears likely to be delayed until 2030, Stefano Venier, CEO of Italian energy infrastructure company Snam, one of the TAP consortium shareholders, has indicated.

The ability to double the pipeline’s capacity depends more on the availability of gas in Azerbaijan than on demand, the Snam chief executive noted during a presentation of the company’s business plan until 2027.

The aim is to increase capacity gradually so that the pipeline can operate at full capacity sometime between 2027 and 2030, the latter being most probable, the official noted.

In previous announcements, the TAP consortium, in which Snam holds a 20 percent stake, had said the pipeline’s capacity would be doubled by 2027.

Participants in a market test being staged to measure whether demand is sufficient face a January 31 deadline to submit binding bids.

TAP, an 878-kilometer link crossing Greece, Albania and the Adriatic Sea to Italy, is developing from a pipeline of strong Italian and Greek interests to one with a crucial pan-European role as a result of the energy crisis of the last two years, a condition that has further highlighted the importance of energy security and gas supply, Snam noted.

 

Southeast European bodies launch single-market effort

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Regulatory authorities, operators and energy exchanges active in southeast Europe have begun informal preparations for the establishment of a single electricity market in the region, energypress sources have informed.

These bodies, which had signed a Memorandum of Understanding in mid-November, launching their single-market preparations, are conducting preparatory work at two levels.

Southeast European regulators, headed by the Albanian regulatory authority, placed at the group’s helm, have joined forces to coordinate on high-level preparatory work.

A second team has brought together the region’s operators and energy exchanges. Its participants appointed the North Macedonian energy exchange as group leader.

The participating bodies have scheduled their next meeting for February, in Pristina, where the group will plan its next steps.

Establishing a single southeast European electricity market represents an extremely challenging task that will require time and critical intervention of market structures, experts have pointed out.

The regulatory authorities, operators and energy exchanges working on this single-market project intend to submit an application to the European Commission within 2024, making their endeavor official.

Traders are monitoring the effort’s developments as a prospective market unification would enable cross-border trade in an intraday market, currently not possible.

The unification process will be modelled on the coupled markets of Greece with Italy and Bulgaria.

Balkan potential highlighted by IPTO’s interest in MEPSO

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Greek power grid operator IPTO’s interest, for some time now, to acquire North Macedonia’s grid operator MEPSO, either through a strategic agreement or a share capital increase, points to the existence of opportunities for energy infrastructure upgrades in the neighboring country as well as the growing role to be played by electricity networks and corridors in the wider region.

As the energy transition progresses, electricity networks and corridors will no longer merely serve as electricity transmission lines, but promise to gradually replace oil and gas pipelines.

Greece, at present, remains sorely absent from the wider Balkan energy-sector activity. IPTO has yet to make any big moves beyond the country’s frontiers.

Though the western Balkans are currently experiencing a green-energy boom with RES investment growth having reached double digits in some countries, regional networks are outdated and insufficient to support this robust investment interest.

Though it is vitally important for Greece to assert itself as an influential energy-sector player in the Balkans, the flow of energy from the region towards central Europe is currently being controlled by Italy.

Italy’s influence, on energy matters, over the Balkans was expanded in recent years with Montenegro as a base and Italian power grid operator in a leading role, as highlighted by its acquisition of a 22 percent stake in Montenegrin power grid operator CGES.

Identifying the pivotal energy role of the Balkans early on, Italy took a strategic decision for the development of a first route linking the western Balkans and Europe in the form of a 445-km line – 423 km of it as an underwater Adriatic Sea crossing – from Pescara, on Italy’s east coast, to Kotor, on Montenegro’s Adriatic coast.

The small Balkan country has since become a bridge of energy exchange between eastern and western Europe as this Adriatic link has interconnected Italy’s network with those of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo, Albania, and, by extension, Bulgarian and Romania.

Italian power grid operator Terna is now examining the prospect of boosting this line’s transmission capacity from 600 MW to 1,200 MW. Giuseppina Di Foggia, CEO at Terna, recently held talks in Rome with Montenegro’s new president, Jakov Milatovic, about this project.

 

DEPA Commercial 35% stake in Albanian gas-run power plant

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Gas company DEPA Commercial is set to acquire a 35 percent stake in Fier Thermoelectric SA, a company co-founded in September, 2022 by the GEK TERNA group and Albania’s GENER2, for the development of a 174-MW gas-fueled power station in Roskovec, south-central Albania, the first of its kind in the neighboring country.

DEPA Commercial’s board has just approved the company’s entry into Fier Thermoelectric SA, a significant investment diversifying its portfolio.

As part of the agreement, DEPA Commercial has signed a long-term agreement for gas supply to the Roskovec power station.

This new power plant promises to enable Albania to significantly reduce electricity imports and manage the country’s growing energy demand with greater efficiency and flexibility.

Konstantinos Xifaras, chief executive at DEPA Commercial, noted: “DEPA Commercial is constantly expanding its activities as a modern, vertically integrated company, particularly in the power generation sector. Following our investments in photovoltaic projects with a total capacity of 815 MW, and our participation in an 840-MW power plant in Alexandroupoli (northeastern Greece), we are entering a new market, that of Albania, by participating in the country’s first thermal power plant. DEPA Commercial is emerging as one of the most dynamically growing energy companies in southeast Europe, steadily participating in and undertaking initiatives that contribute to the energy stability of the region.”

DEPA Commercial tender soon for PV parks totaling 495 MW

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Gas company DEPA Commercial aims to announce, by the end of the year, a tender for the design, procurement and development of its first renewable energy projects, energypress sources have informed.

The tender will concern two projects totaling 495 MW, most of this capacity, 400 MW, for solar energy farms in Kozani, northern Greece, plus 95 MW for solar energy farms in Viotia, slightly northwest of the wider Athens area.

DEPA Commercial, which has shaped a new company strategy striving for vertical integration by also becoming an electricity producer, last year acquired New Spesconcept, holding a 222-MW RES portfolio, and North Solar, possessing a RES portfolio of 500 MW.

Besides its entry into the RES sector, with prospective solar energy projects totaling approximately 730 MW, DEPA Commercial also intends to partner with power utility PPC and the Copelouzos group in a new 840-MW combined-cycle power plant being planned for development in Komotini, northeastern Greece.

Also, DEPA Commercial, as part of its new strategy, has undertaken initiatives to expand its wholesale trading activity in foreign markets. This effort has significantly intensified over the past two years.

At present, DEPA Commercial is active in the Austrian, Hungarian, Romanian and Italian markets and has signed agreements to supply gas to Moldova and Albania.

DEPA Commercial, it should be noted, is the first Greek gas company to have become a member of the Hungarian Energy Exchange (CEEGEX).

The Hungarian market represents a pivotal gas trading hub in central Europe and is also located at the northern end of the prospective Vertical Corridor, a route running from Greece to Bulgaria, Romania and Hungary that will be created by interconnecting the transmission systems of these four countries to enable two-way transport of fuel between south and north.

RES penetration to be aided by 15-minute trading products

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The introduction of 15-minute continuous trading products in the day-ahead market, preparations for which are in full swing, according to energypress sources, would reduce balancing costs and also offer better terms for the renewable sector’s penetration of the energy mix.

However, the transition to 15-minute continuous trading products in the day-ahead market, planned to take place simultaneously across Europe in 2025, promises to be a demanding task for all parties involved.

The Greek Energy Exchange, as a key player in the domestic implementation of the project, has already begun relevant preparations to adapt and improve all its systems in order to be able to support related transactions.

Power grid operator IPTO will need to take similar action for its infrastructure, and at grid interconnections, to ensure transactions flow smoothly amid conditions in which 15-minute products will play dominant roles in the day-ahead and intraday markets.

Indeed, Greece’s unique position with both coupled (Bulgaria, Italy) and non-coupled (Albania, North Macedonia, Turkey) neighboring electricity markets presents a challenge that requires special provisions.

Special attention will be needed so that 15-minute continuous trading products can also apply for non-coupled markets, otherwise the Greek market will be obliged to maintain 60-minute products, as is the case at present, in order to trade electricity in the day-ahead market with non-coupled markets.

 

 

 

DESFA market test for network expansion offers positive signs

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A market test staged by gas grid operator DESFA for a prospective expansion of the country’s gas transmission network has delivered positive first signs, attracting, according to energypress sources, a satisfactory level of participants for its first round of non-binding bids.

The market test is being conducted with the aim of shaping a list of projects to cover existing and future needs of gas network users, as the system’s capacity at present is well below levels required by current demand.

The process will be used by DESFA to gauge the level of interest of international and domestic players for the development of projects facilitating greater gas transmission within and beyond Greece.

The first round of the market test ends tomorrow. Barring unexpected developments, an extension is not on the cards.

DESFA will then assess first-round bids submitted before launching a second round in September, a binding stage expected to last until the end of spring in 2024.

Market trends have indicated that, in the forthcoming years, the country’s gas transmission system will need to supply new residential areas (western Macedonia in the north as well as Greece’s west) and also serve new interconnections with neighboring countries (North Macedonia, Bulgaria and, via TAP, Albania and Italy.

RAE, IPTO pushing ahead to integrate traders into intraday market

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Intraday electricity market participation by traders engaged in transactions concerning the country and non-coupled neighbors – Albania, Turkey and North Macedonia – a complex matter that has remained pending for years, is now on track to be approved by RAE, the Regulatory Authority for Energy, and power grid operator IPTO.

One of the basic steps needed is the establishment of Daily Intraday Capacity Auctions, a step requiring the approval of all respective operators involved. According to sources, all operators involved have expressed willingness to proceed, but the overall process will take time to complete.

IPTO has already declared its readiness, from a technical perspective, to implement these auctions, which, however, is not the case for other operators as they are active in markets still at early stages of development. These operators still need to make adjustments in order to accommodate Daily Intraday Capacity Auctions into their systems.

IPTO has been actively involved, underlining, to neighboring operators, its availability to contribute to their efforts.

The addition of traders to the intraday market promises to boost its liquidity as more participants become involved. This development will greatly improve the ability of market players to correct their positions and, as a result of this greater flexibility, limit their balancing market costs.

Also, the more precise activity of market players will create conditions limiting the volumes of electricity needed in the balancing market.

PCI application in making for Greek-Austrian-German grid link proposal

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Austria and Germany are considering a Greek proposal for a 3-GW electricity grid interconnection, a project that would directly transport green energy produced in Greece to the two countries.

Energy minister Kostas Skrekas unveiled this project plan during a speech yesterday at the Renewable & Storage Forum, a two-day conference organized by energypress, continuing today.

Germany is believed to be seeking alternative green energy sources as, according to the minister’s comments at the conference, the country cannot develop RES projects in its south as a result of environmental measures protecting the Black Forest.

Sources informed that officials are working on an application for PCI classification concerning this grid interconnection.

Power grid operator IPTO, the sources added, has prepared plans for two alternative routes, one crossing Albania, Montenegro, Croatia and Slovenia, before reaching Austria and Germany’s south, the other a subsea route from Albania’s coastline to Slovenia followed by an overland crossing to Austria and Germany’s south.

Ukraine war adds to complexity of Greek-Albanian EEZ dispute in Ionian

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An unresolved exclusive economic zone dispute between Greece and Albania over territorial rights in the Ionian Sea has become even more complicated as a result of Russia’s war in Ukraine, a conflict that has turned the Ionian and Adriatic sea areas into a hotbed of confrontation between NATO and Russia.

According to a recent report published by Italian daily La Reppublica, numerous incidents, both minor and more intense, have taken place in the Adriatic and Ionian seas between the escorting forces of the US 6th Fleet aircraft carrier Harry Truman and Russian warships. At least one of these incidents took place off Corfu, military sources have informed.

The naval incidents in the region are a result of its increased strategic importance for NATO with regards to the war in Ukraine as well as military preparations for any possible spread of the conflict beyond Ukraine.

Greece and Albania, following an agreement between the two countries, have begun procedures to take their Ionian Sea EEZ dispute to the International Court of Justice in The Hague. The consequences of the Ukraine war add to the issue’s complexity.

Energean and ELPE (Hellenic Petroleum), both holders of licenses in the Ionian Sea, are working to explore the region’s hydrocarbon prospects.

Greek-Italian grid link repair work subduing power prices

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The Greek-Italian grid interconnection’s temporary disruption for repair work is offering partial protection against wholesale electricity price increases in Greece.

The temporary-closure period for the grid interconnection, which has been sidelined towards both directions since August 19, has just been extended until September 3 following a request made by Italy’s power grid operator Terna, according to an announcement made by IPTO, Greece’s power grid operator.

Last Friday and Saturday, the wholesale electricity price was 300 euros per MWh higher in Italy compared to Greece.

Under normal conditions, price differences between neighboring markets prompts electricity export activity towards the lower-priced country.

Greek electricity exports were considerable in July, reaching 500 GWh, data provided by IPTO showed. Of this total, 351 GWh was exported to Italy, 253 GWh to Albania, 184 GWh to North Macedonia and 90 GWh to Bulgaria.

Electricity export figures will be subdued in August as a result of the disruption of the Greek-Italian grid interconnection. The link has been closed down for repairs on numerous occasions in recent years.

 

 

Shell gas prospects in Albania promising for Ioannina license

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Albania’s prospects of significant oil and gas discoveries that could boost the country’s future and also play a big role in Europe’s energy future, as announced by Prime Minister Edi Rama, could spell good news for a nearby Greek license in the country’s northwestern Epirus region.

Dutch energy giant Shell, a company that likes to keep its cards close to its chest, is preparing for drilling activities at Albania’s Shpirag 5 license, following successful exploration at Shpirag 4, which has delivered production totaling many thousands of barrels per day.

Shell Upstream Albania, Shell’s Albanian subsidiary, has been active in the neighboring country since 2018, pledging to invest more than 40 million euros over a seven-year period.

As for the Epirus license, in Greece’s wider Ioannina area, a consortium comprising Repsol and Energean has invested over 40 million euros, primarily for a seismic survey conducted in 2018 and 2019, a procedure through which an area to be further explored has been identified.

 

Minister: ‘Revythoussa FSU launch by end of this month’

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An FSU installation at the Revythoussa LNG terminal on the islet just off Athens will begin operating by the end of this month, energy minister Kostas Skrekas has told an Economist conference.

This LNG’s resulting capacity boost, combined with the development of northeastern Greece’s Alexandroupoli FSRU, now under construction, will upgrade the country’s gasification capacity to 15 bcm annually, a level ensuring Greece’s energy sufficiency as well as supply of quantities to neighboring countries.

Greek gas exports to Bulgaria are already covering as much as 80 percent of the neighboring country’s daily gas needs.

Skrekas, at the conference, also made note of Greece’s potential as a gas and green energy hub in the region. Interconnection projects with neighboring countries will play a pivotal role.

Greece’s plans include upgrading a connection with Albania within the next few years, as well as electricity interconnections with Bulgaria and Italy. In addition, a prospective electricity grid interconnection with Egypt promises to facilitate the transportation of up to 3 GW from the north African country to Greece and, by extension, the rest of Europe.

The minister also made note of the IGB pipeline to be inaugurated this Friday by prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis ahead of its launch by the end of the month.

Mytilineos considering new gas-fired power units in Balkans

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The Mytilineos group is examining the prospect of developing natural gas-fired power stations in Bulgaria and North Macedonia, seeing investment opportunities, like Greece’s other major energy players, in the Balkan region.

EU members Bulgaria and Romania, as well as non-EU members in the Balkan region, such as Albania, North Macedonia and Serbia, are announcing closures of old coal-fired power stations.

This development is creating investment opportunities as older units being withdrawn will, over the next few years, need to be replaced by new facilities, including natural gas-fired power stations.

A month ago, after receiving equipment for a new gas-fired power station unit in Agios Nikolaos, Viotia, northwest of Athens, Mytilineos informed that the company is examining the prospect of developing a similar combined cycle unit in Bulgaria.

Bulgaria, like Greece, is withdrawing its coal-fired power stations and aims to have completed the country’s decarbonization effort by 2025. The neighboring country will need to replace lost capacity through the introduction of natural gas-fired power stations and RES unit investments.

Extremely higher carbon emission right costs have made the withdrawal of coal-fired power stations a priority for Bulgaria and the wider region, one of Europe’s most lignite-dependent areas.

Greece, Bulgaria and Romania, combined, represent nearly ten percent of the EU’s total lignite electricity generation capacity.

Carbon emission right prices relaxed to 49.26 euros per ton yesterday after peaking at 56.65 euros per ton last Friday, following a months-long rally.

Last week, during a meeting with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, North Macedonian leader Zoran Zaev disclosed that his government is discussing the prospect of a new gas-fired power station, in the neighboring country, with Mytilineos.

In Romania, projections for 2030 estimate the installation of 5.2 GW in wind energy units and approximately 5 MW in solar energy units.

Serbia, possibly offering even bigger green energy investment opportunities, aims to replace 4.4 GW of coal-fired generation by 2050. The country is now making plans for 8-10 GW in RES investments.

IPTO seeking active role in Cyprus, Israel, Egypt grid interconnections

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Power grid operator IPTO is seeking an active role in the grid interconnections to link Greece with Cyprus and Israel, as well as Egypt, the company’s chief executive Manos Manousakis told yesterday’s Power and Gas Supply Forum, an online event staged by energypress.

Responding to questions as to whether IPTO is considering to acquire an equity stake in these projects, Manousakis noted that the operator’s role is to ensure the interoperability of the Athens-Crete and Crete-Cyprus power grid interconnections, a commitment made by the Greek government back in October, 2019.

The European Commission, engaged in ongoing exchange with IPTO in an effort to understand the level of maturity of these grid interconnection projects and, primarily, the interoperability of its systems, has mentioned that Brussels would be interested in the equity involvement of a European TSO, Manousakis informed.

Other priorities at IPTO include upgrading and expanding Greece’s grid interconnections with neighboring countries, which would boost cash flow in the domestic energy market through electricity exports, the chief executive noted.

A tender for the development of the local segment of a second transboundary grid interconnection linking Greece and Bulgaria, from Nea Santa, northeastern Greece, to Bulgaria’s Maritsa area in the south, will be completed this year, Manousakis informed.

New interconnections with Albania and North Macedonia are also being examined at present, he noted.

In addition, IPTO is close to signing a cooperation agreement with Italian operator TERNA for the development of a second Greek-Italian grid interconnection.

Furthermore, plans for an upgrade of the Greek-Turkish interconnection, a project linking the European and Turkish transmission systems, are also maturing, the IPTO chief informed.

 

 

Motor Oil launches west Balkan growth plan, under Shell brand, in Croatia

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Petroleum retailer Coral, a member of the Motor Oil group, is eyeing west Balkan markets, troubled by gasoline and diesel quality and trading concerns, on the strength of the strong Shell brand name it represents.

The Motor Oil group acquired Shell Hellas in 2010 in a deal licensing the company to market the multinational’s brands. Motor Oil then renamed Shell Hellas as Coral and, approximately four years ago, founded companies in North Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro and Serbia.

Coral’s acquisition of a 75 percent stake in petroleum retailer Apios, holding a 3 percent share of the Croatian market and operating 26 petrol stations in the country, represents the beginning of the Greek firm’s growth plan for the west Balkan region, company officials said.

Croatia, this investment plan’s launch pad, is backed by robust economic projections. The country’s tourism industry has enjoyed solid growth over the past two years, generating increased revenues for petroleum firms.

Beyond Croatia, Coral plans to soon open two petrol stations in North Macedonia, under the Shell brand name. The company is also planning to enter the markets of Albania and Montenegro, where it also maintains the rights to use the Shell brand name.

Coral already operates five petrol stations in Serbia and is preparing to launch an additional six in this country.

 

TAP trial test preparing launch, Azeri gas delivery by year’s end

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The Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) project, to enable the delivery of Caspian gas to destinations throughout southeastern, central and western Europe, is currently undergoing trial tests at its interconnection with the Greek grid in Thessaloniki’s Nea Mesimvria area, sources have informed.

As things currently stand, gas grid operator DESFA should be ready to receive Azeri natural gas through the Nea Mesimvria point within the next few weeks, a development that will offer the Greek gas grid a fifth alternative supply entry point.

Completion of the trial testing, expected to last until next month, will enable the project’s commercial launch. Greek gas utility DEPA and Bulgaria’s BEH have reserved respective capacities at preceding auctions.

The TAP project’s launch promises to benefit the Greek economy and also bolster the country’s energy supply security.

At present, the national gas grid possesses three entry points. Russian gas enters Greece via the Nea Mesimvria point after crossing the Bulgarian system. Kipoi in Evros, northeastern Greece, linked to a Greek-Turkish pipeline, and the LNG terminal at the islet Revythoussa, just off Athens, represent the Greek system’s two other entry points.

Besides Nea Mesimvria, the TAP project, running across northern Greece and through Albania all the way across the Adriatic Sea to Italy, will also offer the Greek gas grid a fifth entry point via Italy.

TAP’s commercial launch now on the final stretch

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The Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) project, to enable the delivery of Caspian gas to destinations throughout southeastern, central and western Europe, is almost ready for its commercial launch, four years after construction began and 17 years after its first feasibility study was conducted.

The project, running from the Shah Deniz gas field in Azerbaijan, will represent the EU’s main alternative route for natural gas, greatly contributing to the end of the continent’s dependence on Russian gas, supply security and intensified competition.

The TAP project will begin operating at a capacity of 10 billion cubic meters, annually.

Greece was the first of the project’s host countries to complete its segment of construction work, a 550-km stretch across northern Greece, from Evros’ Kipoi area in the northeast to Ieropigi in the Kastoria province, at the Greek-Albanian border.

Just days ago, Greece’s energy ministry approved the operation of the project’s Greek segment, running from Evros to Rodopi, Xanthi, Kavala, Drama, Serres, Thessaloniki, Kilkis, Pella, Imathia, Florina, Kozani and Kastroria.

Authorities of the project’s two other host nations, Albania and Italy, will soon grant their respective operating permits, sources informed.

The project’s commercial launch is expected to take place close to the final quarter this year, the energy ministry has announced.

The Greek and Italian gas grid operators, DESFA and Snam, respectively, will need to prepare their national grids so that natural gas quantities can reach consumers via TAP, sources added.

 

Hydrocarbons can push RES sector to next stage, new EDEY official says

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The hydrocarbons industry will continue to play an important role in the energy mix until 2050, despite a shift in policies turning to renewable energy, and could also serve as a lever of support propelling the RES sector to its next stage, according to Aristofanis Stefatos, the newly appointed chief executive of EDEY, the Greek Hydrocarbon Management Company.

Stefatos and Rikard Skoufias, concurrently named new president of EDEY, offered their views on the upstream sector during questioning by Greek Parliament’s permanent committee on institutions and transparency.

The two men, both proposed by energy minister Costis Hatzidakis for the top EDEY jobs, officially assumed their roles following approval by the committee.

During questioning, committee members asked about the future of the hydrocarbons sector and licenses in Greece given the major decline in crude oil prices, as well as climate change policies being adopted.

Stefatos described the dip in crude oil prices as a temporary condition, noting the sector has experienced such situations in the past before rebounding. “It is only a matter of time before the same thing happens again,” he noted.

The two officials were also asked to comment on environmental protection issues, while Stefatos, the new chief executive, was asked to clarify on his position as shareholder of a Norwegian upstream company.

An offshore corridor running down from Albania into Greece’s EEZ has potential, while signs of a deposit in the area are encouraging, Stefatos told the committee. However, further 3D seismic surveys must soon be conducted in the area, he stressed.

PPC list of electricity import traders for 2019 contains surprises

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The main power utility PPC’s list of traders chosen for electricity imports in 2019 from grid interconnections north of Greece contains certain surprises.

A number of major players have not made PPC’s recently approved list of traders for 2019, while firms limited to minor transboundary electricity trade roles last year –  through Greece’s grid interconnections with Bulgaria, Fyrom (Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) and Albania – have been included.

PPC’s list of traders for 2019 is comprised of Alpiq, CEZ, EFT, Elpetra, Enmar, Freepoint, Grand Energy, HSE, Green, LET and Terna Energy Trading.

Four of these, Elpetra, Enmar, Freepoint and Grand Energy, were not involved in any trading activity with PPC last year.

According to a related monthly industry report, electricity imports last December were provided by six traders, these being Alpiq (33.302 MWh), CEZ (19 MWh), EFT Slovenia (21.295 MWh), HSE (28.375 MWh), GreenEnv (33.116 MWh) and LE Trading (1.417 MWh).

PPC and Alpiq operate a subsdiary firm in Bulgaria focused on transboundary electricity trade.

 

 

 

Greece, Albania reach EEZ deal promising Block 1, 2 progress

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The governments of Greece and Albania appear to have reached an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) agreement whose implementation would clearly define offshore regional borders and enable hydrocarbon exploration progress in the Ionian Sea’s Blocks 1 and 2. An official announcement by both sides is expected soon, energypress has been informed.

In the past, Albania has strongly reacted against the prospect of any exploration at these blocks, which the neighboring country has regarded as disputed offshore territory.

The Greek government’s agreement with Tirana comes as acknowledgment of partial faults that have existed until now in the mapping out of the EEZ, reliable sources noted.

In exchange, Albanian officials will not be able to raise hydrocarbon-related objections with regards to the continental shelf close to Greece’s Othoni and Erikousa islets, located in the Ionian Sea’s north.

Leading Greek government officials have expressed confidence that problems encountered in the past, from Albanian opposition against Greek hydrocarbon activity in the region to attempts by the neighboring country to explore areas within Greece’s EEZ, will not be repeated following this latest agreement.

Blocks 1 and 2 were included in a Greek package of 20 offshore blocks included in a tender that ended in July, 2015.

A consortium comprised of Total, ELPE (Hellenic Petroleum) and Edison signed an agreement for Block 2, in the Ionian Sea’s north, last year.

The situation concerning Block 1, in the Ionian Sea’s northwest, remains unclear. ELPE had submitted an offer but local authorities have kept putting off its appraisal.

Less than a decade ago, Turkey had intervened following a previous EEZ agreement reached between Greece and Albania, demanding Tirana to retract the arrangement as it offered Greece full islands rights, which carried negative implications concerning Ankara’s hydrocarbon interests in the Aegean Sea.

 

 

 

 

 

PPC eyeing Fyrom, Albania, Turkey to offset local retreat

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Greece’s main power utility PPC, keen to gain from the opportunities offered by an early entry into a foreign electricity market now being liberalized, is looking to acquire EDS, an electricity trading company with a 320 MW portfolio in Fyrom, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, representing 40 percent of the neighboring market, and possessing a presence, through subsidiaries, in the Serbian, Slovak and Kosovo markets.

Facing severe bailout-required market share contraction targets in Greece, PPC is desperately seeking to offset its anticipated domestic retreat with the generation of revenues abroad.

Though it is still too early for PPC to make any formal announcements on investment objectives in the wider region, the power utility has, for quite some time now, been examining a variety of prospects, including investing in Albanian hydropower facilities. PPC has already established a subsidiary in Albania.

Turkey is another neighboring market being examined by PPC. Early last month, PPC’s chief executive Manolis Panagiotakis, speaking at the American-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce’s annual “Greek Economy Conference”, revealed that the Greek power utility was looking to acquire the development rights for a power station in Turkey’s Eskisehir area, in the northwest, with Chinese firm Shenhua as the investment’s partner. “Our strategic choice is to become leaders in the region, which will enable us to develop as a modern electricity company,” Panagiotakis had remarked, suggesting PPC needs the support of foreign capital to remain afloat.

The Eskisehir plan entails the development of a 1,080-MW power plant, according to Turkish media. Lignite deposits in the area currently belong to EUAS (Electricity Generation Inc), which, along with the prospective power facility, represent part of a privatization plan. A January 26 deadline has been set for binding offers, while, according to local media, the winning bidder will be able to sell electricity production to the Turkish grid, through this facility, at a minimum tariff level of 5 to 6 dollars per KWh.

According to the bailout terms, PPC needs to reduce its Greek retail electricity market share to 49 percent by 2020.

 

 

DESFA plan for TAP maintenance in Greece, Albania progressing

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Talks between DESFA, Greece’s gas grid operator, and the TAP consortium concerning a prospective agreement offering operating and maintenance responsibilities of the pipeline’s segment running through Greek territory to the operator have entered the final stretch following a period of stagnancy, caused by a leadership change at TAP during the summer, sources have informed.

The operating and maintenance agreement between DESFA and the TAP consortium is expected to soon be signed, the sources added.

At the same time, legal and procedural matters concerning the establishment of a joint venture involving DESFA and Albania’s Albgaz to take on operating and maintenance duties for the TAP pipeline’s Albanian segment are gradually being resolved, the sources said.

As part of this arrangement, DESFA is expected to provide knowhow and training to the Greek-Albanian joint venture, whose headquarters are planned to be based in Tirana. A working group is believed to be currently examining the make-up of this new company.

Currently being constructed, the TAP pipeline, to cover 878 kilometers, will run through Greece’s north, Albania and across the Adriatic Sea to Italy, transporting natural gas from the giant Shah Deniz II field in Azerbaijan to Europe.

PPC preparing for new attempt to penetrate Balkan markets

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PPC, Greec’s main power utility, is preparing to make a new attempt at penetrating the Balkan market, the corporation’s chief has told the recently launched weekly Nea Selida.

As part of the effort, the utility plans to participate in an upcoming international tender offering two hydropower facilities in Turkey, while similar moves are being planned for the Albanian market, according to PPC chief executive Manolis Panagiotakis.

The power utilty’s entry into the wider Balkan market, gaining pivotal importance as the EU energy market moves towards full intergration, is imperative for the Greek corporation’s future, Panagiotakis stressed in the interview.

PPC is aiming to heighten its activity in the Turkish market by establishing synergies with enterprises in the neighboring country, Panagiotakis noted without elaborating further.

Many pundits believe that PPC will seek to penetrate the Balkans with the backing of Chinese business partners. For quite some time now, the Greek utility has made clear its anticipation of and reliance on Chinese capital as a key towards entering Balkan markets following unsuccesssful attempts going back over a decade.

PPC made its first attempt in 2003 when it sought to enter the Romanian market. A series of other efforts ensued, all proving unsuccessful.

Albania, where PPC has established a subsidiary, needs to have its network developed, while thermal units also need to be constructed as the country’s network is heavily reliant on hydropower facilities.

 

Albgaz wants completion of TAP talks ahead of any DESFA partnership

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Albania’s gas transmission system operator company Albgaz is in discussion with the TAP consortium developing the Trans Adriatic Pipeline) for provision of maintenance service concerning the pipeline’s Albanian section, an Albgaz source has told Azerbaijani news agency Trend.

In April, DESFA, Greece’s gas transmission system operator, and Albgaz had signed a memorandum of understanding to create a joint venture for maintenance of TAP in Albania.

“We have not received yet the scope of works as the first necessary step from TAP AG. Albgaz is in discussion with TAP AG and we believe it is possible to finalize an agreement within the current year,” the Albgaz source noted.

The source noted that Albgaz was in discussion with DESFA but added that the Albanian operator will not take part in any consortium or partnership with regards to maintenance services for the pipeline’s Albanian section unless it has first received all necessary details from the TAP consortium on the scope of the work, the principles, strategy and other related project details.

“Right now, we believe we are in a better position than we were originally as we have been certified as a TSO by the Albanian Regulator and have also been recognized and certified by the Energy Community Secretariat. We will receive a full license this September. We will then proceed to establish partnerships with all TSOs to promote natural gas developments in the best interests of Albgaz and Albania,” the Albgaz source added.

 

 

DESFA, Albgas to assume TAP duties on Albanian territory

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A prospective joint venture involving DESFA, Greece’s gas grid operator, and Albania’s Albgas will assume the operational and maintenance duties for the TAP gas pipeline segment crossing Albanian territory, according to energpress sources.

DESFA officials are expected in Tirana today to sign related agreements. The TAP pipeline will run through northern Greece, Albania and across the Adriatic Sea to Italy for delivery of natural gas from the Caspian region to Europe.

The same sources noted that DESFA will sign an MOU following the Easter break with Bulgartransgaz, Bulgaria’s gas operator, as well as Romania’s Transgaz and Hungary’s FGSZ to push ahead the development of the Vertical Corridor. Ukraine’s Uktransgaz has also expressed interest in this project.

Last September, the Greek, Bulgarian, Romanian and Hungarian gas operators, along with ICGB – a 50-50 joint venture involving Bulgarian state-run company BEH and Poseidon (DEPA, the Public Gas Corporation, and Edison, formed for the prospective Greek-Bulgarian IGB natural gas pipeline – signed a joint declaration pledging to intensify their efforts for the development of the Vertical Corridor at technical and regulatory levels.

The IGB pipeline is planned to be incorporated into the Vertical Corridor. The Vertical Corridor, to provide a northbound natural gas transit route from Europe’s southeast, including Greece, is planned to connect with the TAP pipeline.

The Vertical Corridor may also be linked to Greece’s LNG terminal on Revythoussa, an islet just off Athens, whose capacity is being increased, and, as a result, will offer southeast European countries access to LNG.

DESFA is also pressing ahead with preparations for the establishment of a wholesale trade gas hub. A plan for this venture, commissioned to Belgium’s Fluxys, has already been completed. Fluxys is now preparing plans to establish a platform for gas auctions, expected in 2018.

Also, a feasibility study for a 160-km gas pipeline linking Thessaloniki with Stip, in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (Fyrom), is being carried out. An MOU for this project plan has been signed between DESFA and Fyrom’s MER.

This project would provide Fyrom with direct access to the Revythoussa LNG terminal. It could also facilitate a link for Fyrom’s gas network with the TAP pipeline.

 

Albania, widened local activity, included in PPC’s new strategy

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The administration at main power utility PPC expects its planned expansion into the Albanian market to play an important role in helping offset the utility’s anticipated bailout-required market share losses in Greece.

PPC has already established a subsidiary firm in Albania, a move that indicates the utility’s eagerness to pursue a two-pronged attack through which domestic domestic activities will be broadened and foreign market campaigns intensified.

The utility’s chief executive Manolis Panagiotakis recently held a series of key talks in Albania within the framework of a PPC-organized conference on the neighboring country’s hydropower potential.

Albania’s energy minister Damian Gjikouri, his deputy, Gesim Musabelliu, and the country’s economic development minister, Milva Ekonomi, all made clear their interest to establish a strategic partnership with PPC, perceived by the Albanian officials as a key regional player in electricity.

PPC officials, in comments made to energypress, noted that Albania possesses enormous hydropower potential. The country plans to roughly double its overall electricity production by 2030 from the current level of 4,200 GWh to over 8,100 GWh. The greatest part of this increase will come through Albania’s utilization of its hydropower sources, whose proven dynamic has been measured at 4,500 MW. About 1,460 MW is being utilized at present.

Albania also needs to develop its power distribution network as well as its thermal electricity production domain as the country heavily relies on water for power production at a level of 85 percent.

Besides relying on the knowhow of its personnel, especially in the hydropower sector, PPC also intends to collaborate with Greek construction firms with experience in such projects. Some were represented at the recent conference in Albania.

PPC is looking for new sources of revenue, through its involvement in major energy sector projects, both in Greece and abroad, to offset its anticipated losses to be caused by the bailout-required breakaway of its subsidiary firm IPTO, the power grid operator, as well as the utility’s expected market share contraction, another bailout demand.

Besides its ambitions in Albania, PPC will seek to find a partner to submit a joint bid for development of a submarine cable connection linking Crete with mainland Greece. PPC also plans to develop renewable energy source projects, in various RES fields, through its subsidiary firm PPC Renewables. The utility will also eye projects in other countries such as Turkey, Egypt, and Iran, and also focus on Greece’s rapidly expanding electric car market.