Latest update: 16/03/2010 

- electricity - Greece - strike


Fresh strikes likely to disrupt electricity supply, officials say

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A 48-hour strike called by workers at Greece's main electrical utility to protest severe government budget cuts is likely to cause disruptions to the electricity supply across the country on Tuesday, officials said.

By News Wires (text)
 

REUTERS - A strike by workers at Greece's main utility Public Power Corp (PPC) against government austerity measures will lead to electricity supply disruptions across the country later on Tuesday, officials said.

The 48-hour strike by labour union GENOP, which began early Tuesday, will lead to rotating power cuts, forcing the state-controlled utility to step up power imports to cope with demand.

PPC has bought up to 450 megawatts of power from neighbouring countries, mainly Bulgaria, Serbia and Italy, to cope with the temporary closure of about 12 power stations, Aristeidis Tassoulis, an official with Greece's power grid operator DESMHE, told Reuters. But it could not import any more.

"The import capacity has been exhausted," Tassoulis said. A GENOP official told Reuters that about 2,500 megawatts were off line.

GENOP said on Monday it did not plan to disrupt power supply but it decided to toughen its stance during an emergency meeting on Tuesday.
 
Workers at PPC say they face wage cuts of at least 7 percent and pension reductions of at least 10 percent as the cash-strapped government slashes public sector spending to plug its fiscal holes.
Date created : 16/03/2010 
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