Athens News Agency: News in English, 05-12-24

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Greece's first privately-owned power plant opens in Echedoros

[02] Carollers visit political leaders

[01] Greece's first privately-owned power plant opens in Echedoros

The 390MW power plant, which produces electricity with the use of natural gas, is located in the Hellenic Petroleum (ELPE) industrial complex in Echedoros municipality, Thessaloniki, and is the first private investment in electricity production in Greece following the deregulation of the electricity and natural gas market.

The 250 million euros plant, built by ELPE subsidiary 'Energiaki Thessalonikis S.A.', is considered one of the most important investments in the energy sector.

Its operation is expected to contribute to rendering Thessaloniki an energy hub for SE Europe, and the region's linking with the trans-European energy networks.

On Friday, energy minister Dimitris Sioufas hailed the opening of the plant as "a historic moment for the Greek energy market", adding in reply to press questions that "the new plant provides new possibilities and prospects for the safety and stability of the system".

The deregulation of the electricity and natural gas markets according to rules will create a new reality that will bring new investments, increase employment and provide businesses, industry and domestic consumers with alternative options when choosing their supplier of power, Sioufas said, stressing that this was a major conquest.

[02] Carollers visit political leaders

Karamanlis and his wife Natassa received at the Maximos Mansion (government headquarters) a group of children from the Association of Mothers of Large Families of Greece "Rodia", and the Spyros Lambros children's choir, who were treated to traditional Greek Christmas sweets and received gifts from the prime ministerial couple.

Main opposition PASOK leader George Papandreou received a group of carollers from the Panhellenic Federation of Pontian Associations at the PASOK headquarters on Harilaou Trikoupi street in central Athens. Other carollers calling on Papandreou were children of the Greek Police (ELAS) officers, and the Pan-Epirote Union of Greece.

Communist Party of Greece (KKE) leader Aleka Papariga also received the children carolelrs of the Pan-Epirote Union.

She told reporters afterwards that warm wishes did not suffice to meet the needs of the youth and provide relief to the working people from their problems.

Papariga pledged that the KKE, in 2006, would try, with greater adquacy and determination, to stand at the side of the working people and demand that which was necessary for their relief, and to enable them to realise their strength.

Coalition of the Left, Movements and Ecology (SYN) leader Alekos Alavanos received a call from children attending the Filippino Association of Greece's school "Kasapi".

Alavanos said that, according to the Bible, the first experience of the infant Jesus was that of migration from Bethlehem to Egypt, because of Herod's slaughter of the infants. He added that slaughters and poverty continued to exist today, forcing people to migration.

"Consequently, the message of peace and solidarity is best conveyed by the children -- and what wonderful singers they are -- of the Philippine men and women living and working in our country today," he said.

The Fire Brigade's philharmonic orchestra and the children of the ELAS officers also sang carolls at the ruling New Democracy offices on Rigillis street.

Children's choirs, boy scouts and girl scouts, and traditional carollers from Crete called on Archbishop Christodoulos.

On a different note, a group Greece's women Olympic medallists sang carolls on the streets of Glyfada, wearing the Greek Olympic team's outfit, to raise money for donation to the Network Against Domestic Violence.

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