European energy commissioner Gunter Oettinger wants to ensure that Greek consumers continue to have access to energy services despite serious payment difficulties faced by Greek utilities, and the ban on imports of Iranian crude that takes full effect on 1 July.
"With the EU guaranteeing billions for Greece, it must also be possible to pay each day several millions so that Greek energy supply functions," Oettinger told Argus.
"At the moment, Greece must import a lot of gas and, from Iran, oil. If we were to build solar power plants in Greece and close oil and all the coal plants, then we would do a lot for Europe's environment. And we'd also reduce Greece's import dependency. We could also build up sectors that produce growth and employment in Greece."
He promised that the commission "... will do everything to ensure the financial sustainability of gas and electricity companies is maintained for the supply of gas, electricity, heating and cooling for all Greeks."
The commissioner did not go into details as to specific funds to be earmarked for guaranteeing payment of energy imports. Still, according to Oettinger, energy and security of supply are basic elements of European solidarity that must be guaranteed.
In terms of energy, Greece is an 'exciting' challenge that the energy commissioner wants to tackle with the new government over the coming weeks. "We have enough projects planned," he says. "Now it's time to move."