Extension of natural gas distribution network
(Article by Mira Todorovic Symeonides – Partner of Rokas Law Firm, published in the Energy & Natural Resources Newsletter of the ILO on December 7, 2020)
In May and July 2020 the Regulatory Authority for Energy approved three five-year development plans for the
extension of the natural gas distribution network.
Decision 677/2020
Decision 677/2020 (OJ B’ 2981/2020), published on 22 July 2020, approved the five-year natural gas network
development plan for Thessalonica and Thessaly for 2020 to 2024. The plan provides for the extension of:
- medium-pressure networks (19 bar) by 36.6km in Thessalonica and 7.7km in Thessaly; and
- low-pressure networks by 250.5km in Thessalonica and 175.9km in Thessaly.
This is a significant increase in connections to the network and supply quantities. The extension budget is
estimated to be €145 million.
Decision 853/2020
Decision 853/2020 (OJ B 2836/2020), published on 13 July 2020, approved the five-year natural gas network
development plan for the rest of Greece (ie, areas of Greece other than Attica, Thessaloniki and Thessaly). This
plan regulates the development of the network in the following prefectures:
- Continental Greece;
- Central Macedonia;
- East Macedonia and Traci;
- West Greece;
- Peloponnesus;
- West Macedonia;
- Kozani; and
- Epirus.
A total extension of approximately 130km in medium-pressure networks and 1694km in low-pressure
distribution networks is planned. The intention is for the Corporate Pact for Development Framework (a Greek
state development fund that is financed predominantly by the European structural and investment funds) to
finance 35% of the extension, with the remaining 65% financed by the network operator (through loans and the
increase of capital). No tariff increase is planned for this extension. The extension budget is estimated to be
€270 million.
Decision 673/2020
Decision 673/2020 (OJ B’ 1715/2020), published on 6 May 2020, approved the five-year natural gas network
development plan for Attica. The development includes:
reinforcement of the current network;
an increase in connections to the network supply; and
the extension of the low-pressure network by 665km and the medium-pressure network by 25km in the
next five years.
The extension budget is estimated to be €50 million.
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