“It is a fact that we are experiencing a period of great uncertainty. After the great economic crisis in Greece followed the health crisis, now we have a war with us, after the unacceptable Russian invasion of Ukraine, which causes energy insecurity and highlights its weakness. In this context, there is an indisputable need, no matter how much the current government tries to deny it, to strengthen the role of the state and public policies and interventions, because it has been shown that without public policies it cannot be development and social cohesion “said the head of Environment and Energy and member of parliament for Thessaloniki II of SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance, Socrates Famellos, starting his speech at the 7th Delphi Economic Forum in a session to address the high energy prices and the energy poverty.
The pandemic has shown us that the market can not solve the problem, he noted, as does the current energy crisis. Mr. Hatzidakis’s statements in 2020 that competition will solve problems and reduce electricity prices have been completely refuted.
He stressed that the first thing that is needed is strong public policies and a strong state, a debate that is developing in Europe as well. “Characteristically, the President of France, E. Macron, declares, in the midst of the crisis, that the state must regain control of the energy market. Without public policies, moreover, we will not be able to achieve what Europe says and no one will be left behind. “We need to fight energy poverty and ensure access to affordable energy for households and businesses.”
S. Famellos referred with examples to the public policies that we lack today: The Special Spatial Framework for RES, the institutional framework for storage and offshore wind, the storage of natural gas and electricity, where he should now participate and take over the public, the public control in the electricity and gas networks and the operation of PPC with D in front, in order to fulfill its social and developmental role.
The government chose the reform of the Target Model to be implemented “half” and not completely, since the futures market does not work and there are no bilateral contracts, while there is a notorious profit in the pre-wholesale wholesale market. “Unfortunately in Greece, under the responsibility of the government, the extremely high prices today are completely passed on to consumers, something that does not happen in other European countries that operate hedging mechanisms. And this is something that the government had to ensure, as they do even today. other European countries, even with legislation requiring a bilateral rate of bilateral contracts for electricity generators “.
He made it clear that a progressive government would not allow citizens to be electrocuted when they receive their electricity bills, nor would it lead businesses and even industry to prepare for a lockout. “A progressive government based on SYRIZA-PS would not allow a cartel to operate in the electricity market, as is the case today and even the energy-intensive industry complains, nor would it allow the energy market to operate without control and regulation, in contrast to even There is no healthy competition but instead of scandalous profit. of Mr. Mitsotakis for taxation of super profits, the existence of which he acknowledged after pressure from the opposition, still allows them to be produced and it remains to be seen what he will eventually tax and if “.
He pointed out the choice of the Mitsotakis government to block the electricity production in Greece in natural gas, since behind the communicative announcement of the de-lignification is hidden the replacement of the PPC lignite units with private natural gas units and not RES. “Another story of the government that collapsed two days ago in Kozani, where Mr. Mitsotakis admitted that now lignite production is cheaper than natural gas, while he said the opposite a month ago in Parliament, and announced the increase of energy production. He also deconstructed his pseudo-green Energy and Climate Plan with violent, unplanned and communicative de-lignification as he extended the closure of lignite plants at least until 2028. Options that we pay dearly for.
In conclusion, S. Famellos stated: “For three years now we have had a government that only makes announcements that collapse but does not produce work. At a time when the share of natural gas in Greece is decreasing, it is increasing. In RES we have a frozen climate law in drawer in RIS, overheating in the market, the Special Spatial Framework for RES has been announced but not completed from 2019, the Special Environmental Studies for the Natura 2000 areas are ignored so that everyone knows what can be located, cancellation of the priority connection of energy communities “Obstacles to their development. We can not continue like this. So we need to reverse the energy policy.”
Source: Capital
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