Greece is the fourth largest lignite producer in Europe and will be one of the first EU countries to completely phase-out coal from its electricity generaion. Greek last lignite-fired power plant will be closed in 2025, three years ahead of initially agreed deadline, said State Secretary at the Greek Ministry of Energy Alexandra Sdoukou.
This statement follows the decision of state-controlled Public Power Corporation (PPC) to abandon the operation of lignite-fired TPP Ptolemaida V, which is still under construction, until 2028, pushing its conversion to natural gas for 2025.
Sdoukou said that the shutdown of all lignite-fired power plants by 2025, earlier than the original plan, marks the entry of Greece into the club of countries that fully adopt the principles of clean energy, while sealing the transformation of PPC into a modern energy player in Europe.
In September 2019, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis made a pledge to end country’s dependence on lignite by 2028, saying all but one of the country’s coal-fired plants would close by 2023.
