The target model and energy exchange launch date, scheduled for June 30, is no longer possible, unless unforeseeable changes occur, the main issue now being the extent of the expected delay, officials agreed during a virtual conference staged on Wednesday by RAE, the Regulatory Authority for Energy.

Energy exchange and power grid operator IPTO officials took part in the session, held to evaluate preparations of the launch.

Officials admitted the target model’s delay could be over one month long. Given the August summer break, its launch may need to be made even later, they noted.

Similar thoughts were expressed during a preceding European Commission conference, on Monday, to check the target model’s progress.

Despite the extraordinary period’s accumulation of difficulties, the energy ministry still considers the existing target model launch date as official and contends it will make all efforts to achieve it.

General Electric, citing the unforeseeable coronavirus circumstances, has stated it cannot deliver a finalized platform for IPTO’s balancing market over the next few days, as had been planned.

Consequently, a trial run of market systems officially scheduled for April 10 is no longer possible, according to the energy exchange.

On the contrary, IPTO believes trial runs can still be performed without the balancing market’s finalized platform.