Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis warned of a difficult winter on Wednesday at the inauguration of the Larissa energy storage plant, one of Europe’s largest electricity storage units.
At the Larissa energy storage event, Mitsotakis offered support to households facing the energy crisis, following new government measures.
Because of tensions and strikes around Hormuz and Ukraine, oil and gas prices are spiralling, he said. So are global inflation and living costs.
“This winter will be difficult,” Mitsotakis said. “No country is an isolated ‘Gaulish village’, far from the global storm.”
At national level, he said, the government is raising “as many defences as possible”.
Message for European leaders
No national measure can counter an international attack, Mitsotakis said. He plans to take that message to the European Council on Thursday.
Europe must take decisions and respond jointly to geopolitical upheaval, he said. It must also answer the wave of inflation and high prices.
Only a response with tangible results can close the road to “dead-end populism and extremes of every kind”, he added.
EU leaders meet in Brussels on 15 and 16 October, when high energy prices top the European Council agenda.
Larissa energy storage and household aid
At home, Mitsotakis pointed to a 30 per cent rise in the heating allowance for 1.2 million households. He also cited a lower heating oil price, which he said will start at €1.55 a litre.
Pump subsidies of 40 cents a litre on heating oil continue, he said. Similarly, support for motor fuels continues, with refineries still taking part.
Greek City Times reported the heating oil subsidy scheme on 8 October.
Mitsotakis said the measures are fair and costed, and the government will review them when international conditions change.
“If the Greek economy were not able to produce surpluses, we would not have the ability to support society,” he said.
Metlen Energy & Metals and the Karatzis Group developed the Larissa energy storage plant at Nees Karyes through a joint venture.
According to METLEN, the Larissa energy storage system offers 330MW of power and 790MWh of capacity, an investment of about €170 million.
Previously, Mitsotakis sought EU flexibility on energy costs in late September.
Source: ERT News
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