Alarm in Athens for natural gas – Alternative plans on the table
The crucial meeting at the Maximos Palace for her starts in a short time the country’s energy company and the largest caused by yesterday’s decisions of Russia to turn off the gas tap in Poland and Bulgaria.
On the table of the government meeting at the Maximos Palace are the alternative scenarios for the country’s energy dependence, in view of the possibility of “closing the tap” gas flow. The Commission’s proposals on how Member States can manage payments without violating sanctions are under consideration.However, it is not clear whether Russia will accept this method.
In the morning, the Prime Minister, in a telephone conversation with the Bulgarian counterpart of Kiril Petkov, he mentioned that Greece will assist Bulgaria to deal with the new situation caused by the country’s Russian decisions in the energy sector.
Greece has until May 20 to decide what exactly to do as DEPA’s next payment to Gazprom expires at the end of May. The payment concerns gas in April, the first delivery under Putin’s decree, which takes effect on April 1.
The European Commission recommends payments are not considered complete with the deposit of euros and before their conversion into rubles. In contrast, Putin’s decree, effective April 1, provides for the payment to be completed after the conversion into rubles.
Government sources told “H” that Greece will follow the common line that the European Union will draw on the issue. So far, however the common European line is sought, as if the Bloomberg post is valid, then it is obvious that each country moves more or less alone depending on its degree of dependence on Russian gas.
In any case, the President of the Commission Ursula von der Leyen said today that the Commission is prepared for this scenario. The President of the Commission stated that “at this time the coordination group for gas is meeting. We are mapping the EU ‘s coordinated response. We will also continue to work with international companies to make alternatives. Member States have implemented emergency plans for just such a scenario and we have worked with them in coordination and correspondence. Europeans can count on the fact that we are united and in full solidarity with the Member States affected by this new challenge. “Europeans can count on our full support.”
At the table of today’s government meeting will fall and emergency plan prepared by the Ministry of Energy:
- Securing more LNG loads
- Revythousa reinforcement with extra floating tank – in the summer it can work in the new FSU
- More Azeri gas through the TAP pipeline – This is something that is technically difficult, as adjustments are needed in both the pipeline and in Azerbaijan.
- Increasing lignite mining – It is the main alternative of Greece
- Operation of five diesel power plants
Because the problem of Greece is big
The problem of Greece is not small, as well our country depends on gas to a large extent for electricity generation. Until recently, the contribution of natural gas to the electricity generation mix was close to 40%, while after the start of the war in Ukraine and due to the spring that drops demand while increasing the dynamics of RES has fallen below 30%.
Specifically for today, Wednesday 27 April, the energy mix of Greece is as follows:
- RES: 32.20%
- Imports: 30.19%
- Natural gas: 23.63%
- Lignite: 7.43%
- Hydroelectric: 2.58%
As the need for heating weakens, due to rising temperatures and as our country does not have heavy industry, such as Germany for example, the main problem that will arise from a possible closing of the tap is the power supply.
The problem gets worse as well the tourist season is just beginning and in summer the demand for electricity will increase sharply due to tourism and due to the increased needs for cooling through air conditioners, which are all operated with electricity, while heating there is a differentiation of fuel as well as some oil and gas mechanisms while others electricity while some.
With the country’s population growing by more than 100% and tourism and air-conditioning needs in full swing, a possible shut-off by Russia could have incalculable consequences and the alternative sources would not work properly.
This can be easily understood if one takes into account that we supply almost half of the gas we need from Russia, to be precise at 39%.
In this difficult environment, Greece turns its gaze to Germany and Italywhich are two major industrial countries in Europe with significant dependence on Russian gas.
The canal in Poland – Bulgaria is closed
Poland and Bulgaria I will not have Russian gas from today, as the energy giant Gazprom suspends its deliveries to the two countries from today, Wednesday 27/04, as they refuse to pay in rubles as Putin has demandedstating, however, that they have prepared for it.
“On April 26, 2022, Gazprom informed PGNiG of its intention to completely suspend deliveries under the Yamal pipeline contract (…) on April 27,” the Polish state-owned company said in a press release.
Poland’s energy supply is secure, assured the Minister of Climate and Environment Anna Moskva, emphasizing that “there will be no shortage of natural gas in Polish homes”. “Since the first day of the war, we have stated that we are ready for full independence from Russian raw materials,” he added.
Flows from other sources will replace Gazprom’s supplies, said Poland’s Energy Security Minister Piotr Naimsky, adding that the contract for the Yamal pipeline was due to expire in December anyway.
A few hours later, the Bulgarian Ministry of Energy announced that Gazprom notifies Bulgarian state-owned gas distribution company Bulgargaz of suspension of deliveries gas from today Wednesday.
The Bulgarian ministry says it has taken steps to find alternatives to gas supplies and managing the situation.
Emphasizes that at this stage no restrictions on gas consumption in Bulgaria are requiredwhich covers more than 90% of its needs with imports from Gazprom.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has urged countries he calls “unfriendly” to agree to a plan to open Gazprombank accounts for Russian gas payments, with the latter undertaking a currency conversion. in rubles.
The strongman of the Kremlin had threatened to close the “cannula” of gas in case his demands were not fully met.
“The new two-stage payment process proposed by Russia is not in line with the existing agreement by the end of this year and carries significant risks for Bulgaria, including making payments without receiving any gas supply from the Russian side. . “, Said the Bulgarian Ministry of Energy.
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