Environment and Energy Minister Stavros Papastavrou revealed details about the heating allowance, announcing that earlier than last year and specifically by the end of the month, a Joint Ministerial Decision will be issued that will determine the income criteria, family status, degree days, and the method by which it will be distributed this year.
Speaking on Thursday morning (23/10) on ERTnews and the “Newsroom” program, the Environment and Energy Minister also announced that 60% of the allowance will be distributed before Christmas and that the same procedure as last year will be followed.
Papastavrou on heating allowance: 60% before Christmas
As he characteristically stated: “Within ten days at most, citizens will know how and how much money they will receive. It is very important that everyone knows what assistance they will get before winter sets in“.
He added that: “There is a European decision in favor of energy independence. Europe had been dependent on Russia for many years. All 27 of us decided on independence from Russian natural gas. Our country supported this initiative, with the condition that this independence would be real, with no loopholes. It is very important that the green transition and independence from Russian natural gas does not essentially mean higher prices for citizens’ daily lives, and that’s what we’re fighting for“.
Regarding the significance of the upcoming visit of US Energy Secretary Chris Wright to Greece, Stavros Papastavrou noted: “Greece has a specific geographical position, but also has political and economic stability and infrastructure that allows America to choose it as a key partner for its own energy policy. And this has very great geostrategic significance for our country“.
Concluding and referring to Chevron, he noted: “The process at EDEVEEP is being completed so that the ministerial decision can be issued. It may come out in the coming days and certainly before the end of the month, so that a preferred investor can be announced, and then in November, exactly as we had planned and a little earlier, the contract will go to the Court of Auditors for review and then to Parliament for voting either before the end of the year or at the beginning of next year. The goal is for research to begin geophysical studies within 2026. Also, Exxon has very significant activity in Greece. So the two largest oil companies in America are being activated to develop our country in the hydrocarbons sector“.
