The Deputy Minister welcomed the progress of the projects and highlighted their benefits for households and businesses
A meeting with the Deputy Minister of Environment and Energy Mrs. Alexandra Sdoukou was held on 1.08.24 by the CEO of Enaon Mrs. Barbara Morgante and the CEO of the subsidiary Enaon EDA Mrs. Francesca Zanninotti, presenting the progress of the implementation of the gas distribution network construction projects throughout the country and the strategy of the Greek companies of the Italgas group for the next years.
During the meeting, which took place in a very constructive atmosphere, in the presence of the General Secretary of Energy and Mineral Resources Mr. Aristotelis Aivaliotis, the General Director of CRES Mr. Dimitrios Kardomateas and the General Director of Energy of the Ministry of Environment and Energy Mr. Dimitris Tsalemis, the Deputy Minister of Environment and Energy Mrs Alexandra Sdoukou welcomed the progress of the projects for the development of natural gas infrastructure, underlining the benefits they offer to local communities.
«The gas distribution projects throughout the country are progressing rapidly and on schedule, as we saw during Enaon’s presentation which was held on 1.08.24 at the Ministry of Environment and Energy. Within 2024, 12 new areas of the country will have natural gas, enabling households to have access to a more environmentally friendly, cleaner and cheaper form of energy. At the same time, the industrial sector will also benefit from the use of natural gas by rationalising its operating costs. We are particularly pleased that by 2028, around 290,000 new consumers, including public and municipal buildings, industries and households, are expected to be connected, boosting energy efficiency» Mrs. Sdoukou said after the meeting.
The CEO of Enaon, Mrs Barbara Morgante thanked the Deputy Minister for the opportunity given to the management of Enaon to present its strategy, and noted the following: “Our strategy for the expansion and digitization of gas distribution networks in Greece underlines the importance of our commitment in contributing to the country’s development process. By leveraging the expertise of our parent group Italgas, we are investing in innovative infrastructure, providing even in areas that are geographically remote from the national gas transmission system, the possibility of accessing a cleaner and cheaper form of energy. From next year we will also start replacing conventional meters with the cutting edge Nimbus “H2 ready” smart meters, capable to measure different types of gas, even mixed together, offering benefits to consumers. In line with Italgas’ vision for the reception of renewable gases, our networks are ready to immediately welcome biomethane and, in the future, hydrogen, contributing to the achievement of national and European energy transition targets.”
It is noted that Enaon EDA currently manages approximately 8,200 km of networks in 9 Regions of the country, with more than 600,000 active delivery points which, including new connections by 2028, serve over 1,100,000 consumers from the residential, commercial and industrial sectors. Enaon EDA’s approved Business Plan for the period 2024 -2028 foresees investments of approximately EUR 770 million for the expansion of the network with the construction of 2,625 new kilometres, as well as for network modernisation and digitalisation projects. Projects are financed by corporate own funds and some of them are co-financed by the EU (NSRF 2014-2020) and the Greek State (Public Investment Program).
For 2024, the Company’s planning is being consistently implemented. According to data presented by the CEO of Enaon EDA Ms. Francesca Zanninotti to the Deputy Minister of Environment and Energy Mrs. Alexandra Sdoukou, for 2024 the activation of the gas network in 12 new areas is foreseen. In the city of Grevena the gas network was activated in March, while in the cities of Livadia, Kastoria, Argos Orestiko, Giannitsa, Florina, Veria, Karpenisi, Orestiada, Amfissa, Alexandria and the Industrial Area of Patras the gas network will be activated by the end of this year.
In addition, 7 more cities are planned to be supplied with LNG by 2025. It is about Patras, Agrinio, Pyrgos, Ioannina, Arta, Preveza and Igoumenitsa. In the Epirus Region, it is estimated that the first consumer connections will be made in the summer of 2025.
Interest in connecting to the gas network is increasing from both residential, commercial and industrial consumers. It is indicative that contracts for new connections increased by 20% in the first half of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. Higher demand was seen in areas in the Central Macedonia Region (mainly in Serres and Kilkis), as well as in the Western Macedonia Region (mainly in Florina and Grevena).
