Article by the mayor of Kozani, Lazarou Malouta: "Ensuring its distribution 6% revenue from CO2 rights, is the minimum requirement for lignite areas for a fair transition "
Despite, that the timetable for the dismantling of lignite and the closure of the lignite plants of PPC has been finalized by the government after the submission of the revised ESC to the European Commission and the announcement of the PPC Business Plan at the end of last year, the schedule of availability of the resources of the training under Operational Program of Fair Transition 2021-2027 (Master Plan) remains vague.
That too, because the procedures for the legislation of the Regulation on the European Fund for Fair Transition as well as the Regulation on the Multiannual Fiscal Framework of the EU. (2021-2027), constituent sources of funding for the National Plan for Fair Development Transition, are still in the negotiation stage. Hence, the new NSRF is not expected to "run" before at least two years have passed, as the discussion on the EU budget is still open. As a result of all the above, the only sources of funding today are the national resources and resources of the current NSRF. (2014-2020).
Therefore, today the issue of financing the maturation processes of studies and projects arises, required for the viability of district heating systems, but also the actions that need to be taken to change the economic and productive model of the region.
For this reason, It became necessary for the Ministry of Energy to prepare a Transitional Program for the Fair Transition of Lignite Areas for the period 2020-2022, so as to fill the financial gap that exists and which may last up to three years, until the flow of funding for European funds begins.
Under this transitional program, programs to strengthen social cohesion are expected to be funded, the maturation and preparation of projects in the field of RES as well as the basic infrastructure for the arrival of natural gas in order to supply the existing heating systems.
The costs of the relevant interventions will be covered by NSRF resources 2014-2020 and will be supplemented by national resources and in particular by Green Fund resources.
The crucial parameter therefore in the intervening period until the activation of the European Mechanism of Fair Transition, is the short-term coverage of financial needs, as the timing of the transition is already underway with the district's district heating systems facing problems. In particular, they relate to the supply of thermal energy from PPC, since the issue of the proposal of the lignite plants that feed them has not been dealt with yet..
It is also a given, ότι βρισκόμαστε στην τελευταία περίοδο του τρέχοντος ΕΣΠΑ, with everything,what this means for the availability and adequacy of resources as well as the limited program completion schedule.
So the extra funding needed, may result from the continued disposal of part of the revenue from the auction of CO emission rights2 where it started 2019, για τα έσοδα του 2018. Η απόφαση αυτή λήφθηκε ως αντιστάθμισμα της αλλαγής του τρόπου υπολογισμού του Τοπικού Πόρου Ανάπτυξης και της σταδιακής, for this reason, its reduction to zero with the end of lignite combustion.
Specifically, the distribution of the above revenues, according to. 3468/2006, is done annually following a relevant decision of the Minister of Energy and includes a percentage of six percent (6%), which based on N. 4599/2019 available at the Green Fund to fund actions aimed at diversifying local economies and creating jobs in lignite areas. The amount corresponding to the year 2018 is about 31,4 million euros, while the corresponding amount for 2019 αναμένεται να είναι μειωμένο λόγω της συρρίκνωσης της λιγνιτικής συμμετοχής στην ηλεκτροπαραγωγή.
Therefore, given the time lag of funding from the Fair Transfer Fund, It is a one-way street to keep at least his mood 6% revenue from the auction of CO emission rights2, for the same reason, in order for the conditions for a fair transition to the Lignite areas to exist.
It is pointed out, that the request concerns the disposal at least 6%, because the amounts, which will be available in the coming years, will be constantly declining, as the lignite's contribution to the electricity mix will also decrease, until zero. Παραταύτα οι ανάγκες των λιγνιτικών περιοχών για ένα ποσό της τάξης των 30 million euros a year will still exist, in order to diversify their local economies.
Therefore, it is absolutely necessary for the Energy Municipalities to secure and consolidate the above amount., as an annual regular income, concerning the lignite regions, at least until the closure of PPC's lignite plants and in any case until the resources of the European Fair Transition Mechanism are activated.
Ensuring these resources is the minimum requirement, ώστε η κυβέρνηση να στηρίξει έμπρακτα την επιλογή της για άμεση απανθρακοποίηση της ηλεκτροπαραγωγής και ταυτόχρονα να εξασφαλίσει τη Δίκαιη Μετάβαση για τις λιγνιτοφόρες περιοχές της χώρας μας.
Lazaros Maloutas,
Mayor of Kozani
