K. Skrekas: We have a coherent plan for the uninterrupted supply of district heating in Kozani

“We have a coherent plan, which will ensure the uninterrupted supply of district heating”, said the Minister of Environment and Energy Konstantinos Skrekas, answering a topical question of the SYRIZA MP Kalliopis Vetta about the sustainability of district heating in Kozani.

In particular, the Minister stated that in order to ensure the uninterrupted and uninterrupted operation of the district heating systems in Western Macedonia, the Memorandum of Understanding and Strategic Cooperation signed on September 17, 2020 by representatives of all stakeholders, both national and local, has already been prepared and implemented. but also at regional level. This memorandum, said Mr. Skrekas, includes the interconnection of all thermal energy production points with all consumption points of the three cities of Amyntaio, Kozani and Ptolemaida.

It also includes the creation of an energy node within the Steam Power Station (KPP) of Kardia, in which all district heating will be interconnected and the formation of a single business scheme with a partnership of the municipal enterprises of these cities.

The Kardias substation is also the place of arrival of the medium pressure natural gas pipeline from Trikala, Imathia, the implementation of which has already been launched by DESFA and its construction will begin in 2022, said the Minister of Environment and added that “PPC will contribute further in the implementation of the new design regarding the implementation of new thermal energy production projects, which concern both the Kardia HPP and the Ptolemaida Power Plant, the Steam Power Plant, basically of Ptolemaida 5 “. Based on the design of PPC, the project of installation of electric boilers at the Steam Power Station of Kardia, amounting to 3.5 million euros, has been completed and is already in operation and produces district heating in the Municipality of Eordea. “We came and covered the increased cost of operating these electric boilers, actually allocating 15 million euros, with a ministerial decision I issued on Christmas Eve, so as to support the local community and not accept a very unbearable increase due to rising costs. “This money came from the Energy Transition Fund, which as you know we have set up,” said Mr. Skrekas, noting that the project of cogeneration at the Kardia substation using natural gas, with a budget of 80 million euros, has been announced and is expected. the submission of tenders in the immediate future. He also said that the assignment of the necessary constructions to the Ptolemaida 5 unit is imminent, the construction of which is being completed, for the possibility of providing district heating, with a budget of 9,000,000 euros. The Minister informed that the technical specifications have been completed and the preparation of the tender for the installation of natural gas boilers, with a budget of 18 million euros, at the Steam Power Plant has been completed and the announcement of a tender procedure is expected in the near future.

Earlier, SYRIZA MP Kalliopi Vetta had reminded that the installation of district heating is served by Units 3, 4 and 5 of Agios Dimitrios. However, according to the government’s timetable, “with the violent de-ligation”, the 3rd and 4th Units of Agios Dimitrios will close on 31/12/22, while Unit 5 on 31/12/23. “There are a lot of questions here from me and of course from the citizens of Kozani, who have a lot of insecurity about the future of district heating, as the needs of district heating in Kozani that require 120 to 130 megawatt heat units will not be covered by closure of Units 3 and 4 when only 5 will operate “, said the SYRIZA MP, noting that when there is damage or maintenance in the mentioned units, a large gap is created, which is covered with oil boilers, which burn two cubic meters per hour and that is particularly costly for the municipal enterprise. That means 60,000 euros a day. “Already for this year, the cost has reached about 1 million euros, while last year it had reached 2 million euros for a municipal company that can not afford, as you understand. Therefore, we invite you to apply for your coverage assistance. “, said the MP and informed the national delegation that last week it was decided to increase the tariffs of DEYAK by more than 10%, a fact that burdens both the municipal and the individual budget, in combination with the other increases in electricity and basic goods. Ms. Vetta called on the Minister to inform the Parliament about the intentions of the ministry regarding the coverage of 100% of the cost of interconnection of district heating with SITHYA, this new form that will be created to cover district heating. “Will it be at 100% or at the lowest percentage? Will the Municipality of Kozani not be able to cover this cost, which is estimated at around 50 million for the interconnection”, said the SYRIZA MP.

“The implementation of the connections is the responsibility and responsibility of the municipal district heating companies and the inter-municipal company, which we will help to implement this project,” said the Minister of Environment and Energy, adding that according to planning and planning of the municipal enterprise, the project of interconnection and installation of district heating in Kozani with the unified interconnected district heating system at the Kardia substation is expected to be completed by the end of 2023.

He also said that PPC is already considering and launching alternative solutions to meet the needs of district heating in Kozani for the transitional period, such as the installation of an electric boiler system at the Agios Dimitrios substation. “This solution is already being implemented in the municipality of Eordea, which we supported with 15 million euros so that the increase in costs is not passed on to consumers because the cost of electricity has increased,” said Mr. Skrekas.

“In the Gulf of Kyparissia, all measures have been taken to preserve the ecologically sensitive area”

“Measures have been taken to preserve this ecologically sensitive area and marine species,” said Environment and Energy Minister Costas Skrekas, responding to a top-level question from Kriton Arsenis about the “open seismic surveys of Cypriot oil” “.

“Measures have been taken to preserve this ecologically sensitive area and the marine species, sea turtles and cetaceans that live there, as seismic surveys are carried out using sounding methods, ie methods that do not endanger their species “, said the Minister of Environment and informed the MP that:

With the suggestion of the Environmental Licensing Directorate of the Ministry of Environment and Energy to EDEY, the Hellenic Hydrocarbons Company, there is acceptance of the environmental action plan for the geophysical research program in the sea area of ​​the Gulf of Kyparissia, ie the so-called Block 10, “Block 10”. This environmental action plan includes and implements all the envisaged measures that comply with the international conventions MARPOL and ACCOBAMS, as well as the instructions of the Management Organization of Protected Sites, while in addition measures have been adopted in excess of the best international standards through the implementation of “Mr. Skrekas said that a double exclusion zone has been provided, a doubling of marine mammal observers, to ensure that they will not receive any disturbance that would endanger their livelihood. “Therefore, it is ensured that any significant impact on the bay environment is avoided in terms of impacts on sensitive species, such as cetaceans and sea turtles,” the minister said, adding that the Environmental Licensing Directorate had sent the environmental action plan. and has informed about the geophysical research in the marine area of ​​the Gulf of Kyparissia the bodies and services involved.

Earlier, MERA25 MP Kriton Arsenis had accused the government of secretly launching seismic surveys into the “home” of the whale and whale blowers. “Seismic surveys are done at 250 decibels, when the study from the journal Nature – which I hope you know is the most authoritative scientific journal on the environment – explains that 230 decibels is enough to disintegrate the internal organs of these animals and to have the mass bursts of zephyr, as we have in many cases with the military exercises, which are done at 230. You do it at 250. You do it secretly. You do it within walking distance from the protected area of ​​Kyparissiakos, on the borders and on the wetland of global importance for the zifio, for the bellows, which is the Greek Trench.Based on ACCOBAMS, this international agreement that we have signed As a country, it is a critical habitat, says the IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature. day “, said the MP of MERA25.

Mr. Arsenis complained that ACCOBAMS is not observed, which says that seismic surveys should not be carried out in cetacean habitats. “You are going to the main habitat of the Mediterranean, the Greek moat, which is protected by ACCOBAMS, which is protected by IUCN and there you are doing seismic surveys. You are violating the principle, the first point of the ACCOBAMS guidelines”, said the MP and added : “What are the terrible measures you have taken? Visual monitoring half an hour before the start of the seismic surveys? Are these the terrible measures you have taken or maybe one kilometer from protected areas? You are violating all our international agreements. You must stop this “There can be no mobilization of your government for one ziphia and then” bombard “the place where all the zifii are, their main residence, with frequencies higher than what the scientific studies say” .

“We are doing even more than what is provided in the best international practices for conducting such surveys,” said the Minister of Environment and Energy, insisting that the relevant environmental service, the Environmental Licensing Directorate of the Ministry of Environment and Energy, has , the environmental action plan concerning the execution of seismic surveys for the specific area, for the geophysical research in the Gulf of Kyparissia, in Plot 10, at the Management Body of the National Marine Park of Zakynthos, at the Wetlands Management Agency Kotychipou Of Natural Environment and Biodiversity, in the Department of Protected Areas, in the Ministry of National Defense, in GEETHA in C2 Directorate, in the Ministry of Shipping and Island Policy, in the Headquarters of the Hellenic Coast Guard, in the Ministry of Shipping, in the Underwater Antiquities at the Department of Underwater Archaeological Sites of Monuments and Research and finally at the Decentralized Administration of the Peloponnese of Western Greece and the Ionian Sea.

Source: ΑΠΕ-ΜΠΕ