Galery

2

1

Greece is participating in the international community’s attempt for fight against global warming by saying “no” to coal mining and nuclear energy, report Ta Nea newspaper. Meanwhile the government is preparing ne Regulation for energy properties of buildings and new bill for Renewable energy sources, said minister of environment Tina Birbili.

In her speech on the 14^th National congress of energetics Tina Birbili noted that Greece needs to achieve EU’s “20-20-20” goal, according to which up to 2020 harmful emissions need to decrease with at least 20%, energy saving needs to reach 20% and the percentage of renewable energy sources in the energy balance needs to increase with 20%.

In connection to this the Greek national company will remain under state control with at least 51% and its leading role in the new conditions of free market of energy in Europe, will be kept. The Aegean island and Macedonia regions will remain an energy conductor for green energy from the Mediterranean to the North and will connect with the big trans-European networks.

The importance of renewal energy sources (RES) in regards to energy planning is great. Right now they produce only 6.7% energy in Greece but this percentage is supposed to reach 20. “We should not waste even a moment if we want to achieve this ambitious goal by 2020,” said minister Birbili, who also said that by the end of the year a new bill will be prepared for RES.

Including RES requires the energy system network to improve so that it can use the produced energy. First step in achieving this is signing a contract for laying underwater cables between Nea Makri and Pilopotamos but also activating procedures for connecting the Cycladic Islands.

“Among our priorities is to conclude giving out permits for producing RES, which will produce 7 000MW, so that their installment can start as soon as possible.” Those plans will not only aid slowing down climate changes but they will also open new job positions, promised Tina Birbili.

When it comes to saving energy the minister of environment promised that “applying the Regulation for energy properties of buildings, will start right away,” which will aid the quick, vital and cheap inspection of the buildings by starting from the state administration ones.

During the meeting in Copenhagen, Greece will be presented by PM Georgios Papandreou. If the international community does not reach an agreement about the climate during the meeting in December, the price for decreasing harmful emissions during coal mining will increase with $500 billion for every year of delay, warned the International Energetics Services.

Photos: Ta Nea newspaper