ADMIE

About 80 percent of Halkidiki, and specifically the first and a small section of the second peninsula that make up the regional unit, remained without power a day after storms and gale-force winds toppled trees and utility poles, the head of the union of Public Power Corporation employees (GENOP) said Thursday.

The project for the power interconnection between Crete and Attica is facing further delays, as the authority that examines corporate cases before they go to court (AEPP) has decided to suspend the tender for the procurement and installation of two converter stations and an electric substation.

Athinon Avenue continued to record gains on Tuesday, with the benchmark edging up to a fresh 13-month high, while turnover exceeded 100 million euros again.

The Athens Exchange (ATHEX) general index closed at 845.95 points, adding 0.38 percent to Monday's 842.76 points. The large-cap FTSE-25 index expanded 0.37 percent to end at 2,160.05 points.

The Greek stock market's usual buying targets - i.e. banks and Public Power Corporation - secured considerable gains at the start of the week, taking the benchmark to a new 13-month high as the market displayed its excitement at the formal announcement of a snap general election.

The stock market braved its early losses and the drops on most other European bourses to revert to gains by the closing bell on Friday and see its benchmark register monthly gains of 7.37 percent in May. Public Power Corporation and banks led the price rebound, with turnover topping 150 million euros, as the positive momentum that started last Monday continued.

Greek electricity grid operator ADMIE on Friday launched two tenders to build two undersea cables linking the island of Crete to the mainland, the energy ministry said.

The 915 million euro ($1 billion) project will be completed by 2022, the ministry said.

Greek grid operator ADMIE on Friday launched two tenders to build two undersea cables linking the island of Crete to mainland Attica, the Energy Ministry said.

The 915 million-euro project will be completed within 2022, the ministry said.

The landmark electricity interconnection of Crete with Attica is proceeding in a vague regulatory framework with unknown consequences for the future.

Greece's unilateral decision to remove the Crete-Attica power linkup from the European Union's list of projects of common interest (PCI) and instead implement it as a national project will lead to a delay of at least six months in the project.

Concerns from Crete's Deputy Regional Governor Nikos Kalogeris of blackouts this summer put a damper on Thursday's ceremony by the Independent Power Transmission Operator (ADMIE) and the European Investment Bank at the Energy Ministry for the signing of the so-called "small interconnection" linking Crete with the Peloponnese, which is different to the planned Crete-Attica linkup.