Turkish grid operator TEIAS and the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E) have agreed to extend the trial period for Turkey`s interconnection with Bulgaria and Greece by another year, both counterparties confirmed on Wednesday (12th September).
Turkey was expecting to complete the third and final phase of its trial interconnection this month and switch from reduced flows with the synchronous EU area to full commercial exchanges.
The decision to delay full flows by a year follows issues earlier this summer when the overuse of electricity supplies for agricultural irrigation led to imbalances in the system (see EDEM 28 August 2012 ).
"We agreed with ENTSO-E last week to delay the full interconnection by another year," a source at TEIAS said.
"The decision was taken after some problems experienced in southeast Turkey, particularly in the distribution system."
The source said there were investments being carried out to minimise electricity losses during peak consumption season, such as earlier this summer.
Turkey started its trial interconnection with Bulgaria and Greece in September 2010 and has completed two technical stages. The current third phase, which started in June 2011, allows counterparties to trade limited amounts of energy.
Counterparties say the cross-border exchanges have led to an increase in liquidity on the domestic Turkish market.
The final phase was expected to be completed last September, but was delayed until this month (see EDEM 20 September 2011).
(THE ICIS HEREN REPORTS - EDEM 16176 / 12 September 2012)