Athens News Agency: News in English, 12-02-15

Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Samaras sends letter of commitment to EC, Eurogroup, IMF

[02] Greek energy grid in state of emergency

[01] Samaras sends letter of commitment to EC, Eurogroup, IMF

In the letter, Samaras commits to promoting competitiveness and grown and to support the radical structural changes in the labour, products and services markets as well as the denationalisations programme, to restore market confidence and fiscal sustainability while at the same time protecting the vulnerable population groups, and ensuring fiscal stability. www.amna.gr

"We express our commitment for a speedy implementation of the fiscal strategy that includes the Private Sector Involvement (PSI) together with our European partners," the letter said, and assures the partners that if ND wins the next elections, it will remain devoted to the targets and fundamental polices of the programme as it is contained in the Memorandum.

Samaras reiterates, however, that he places great emphasis on recovery, so that state revenues will arise that will enable achievement of the targets. amna

The ND leader further states, as in his previous letter, that amendments may be needed that will guarantee the full implementation of the Programme, and reiterates his intention to bring such matters for discussion together with viable alternative policies, but strictly within the Programme framework, so that the achievement of the targets will not be put at risk. amna

[02] Greek energy grid in state of emergency

Greek environment, energy and climate change minister George Papaconstantinou assured parliament on Wednesday that the ministry is in complete coordination and was taking all the necessary steps to ensure the smooth supply of natural gas in the country, replying to a current question on the emergency situation in the energy market in the wider region of the Balkans.

The ministry intends to put in place emergency measures as of midnight Wednesday, including a ban on export of electricity from Greece, "with the exception of cases of verified transit in the event of inability to supply the domestic consumption of electrical energy".amna

At the same time, the Electrical Energy Transport System Managing authority, in an announcement on Wednesday, put the deficient production at 3GW and that a state of alert has been put in force as of Wednesday. www.amna.gr

The energy sufficiency problems have arisen as a result of the discontinuation of electricity exports to Greece by Bulgaria (since Friday) and FYROM (since Monday), the limited operation of hydroelectric units in order to conserve water reserves, which are already low, for the summer, problems in the country's supply with natural gas from the pipeline via Turkey, and low temperatures in the country resulting in increased energy demand for heating given that consumers have turned to air conditioners and heaters rather than central heating due to high heating oil prices.amna

The Authority has called on natgas-powered electricity production units to restrict consumption of natural gas, which affects electricity production, until two cargoes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) expected in the next few days arrive at the LNG station in Revithoussa.

Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article