"Balkans could face power shortage"

The regional countries will be some 15 to 20 percent short on power supplies unless new power plants are built. This is the estimate given by head of EFT Greek operations Atanasios Karahalios. He told Energyobserver he believed that the Balkans energy situation became alarming after the third and fourth blocks of Bulgaria's Kozloduy nuclear plant were shut down at the end of 2006. "Balkans could face power shortage" "Up until that moment, Bulgaria covered 50 percent of shortages in the neighboring countries, while now it can only come up with 20 percent," Karahalios said. Greece, not unlike most other Balkan countries, depends on electricity imports, he added, which amount to some 10 percent of its annual consumption. EFT is the largest supplier. According to him, the future lies in renewable sources of energy, but also in greater use of coal as the source. "The age of coal is not over, but only if it is used in environmentally safe plants," Karahlios believes. "The power plant EFT is set to build near Doboj, in the Republic of Srpska, will serve as an example of respect for environmental standards, while the company will confirm its position as a reliable supplier, with own production," Karahalios said.

"Balkans could face power shortage"

"Up until that moment, Bulgaria covered 50 percent of shortages in the neighboring countries, while now it can only come up with 20 percent," Karahalios said.

Greece, not unlike most other Balkan countries, depends on electricity imports, he added, which amount to some 10 percent of its annual consumption. EFT is the largest supplier.

According to him, the future lies in renewable sources of energy, but also in greater use of coal as the source.

"The age of coal is not over, but only if it is used in environmentally safe plants," Karahlios believes.

"The power plant EFT is set to build near Doboj, in the Republic of Srpska, will serve as an example of respect for environmental standards, while the company will confirm its position as a reliable supplier, with own production," Karahalios said.