Brussels, 12/03/2001 (Agence Europe) - Whereas Loyola de Palacio, Commissioner responsible for energy, has to present a deadline on Tuesday for the complete liberalisation of the gas and electricity markets (see page 12), the managers of the submarine cable linking the United Kingdom to France have agreed to open access to the infrastructures used to carry electric energy between the two countries.
The only submarine interconnector between the United Kingdom and France has a total capacity of 2000 MW in each direction. It is jointly held by the National Grid, independent British firm, and RTE, which is part of the giant EDF, while having a distinct management and accountancy team.. In the framework of an agreement that expires this month, the use of the interconnector was reserved for EDF for exports to the UK. Following observations made by the European Commission, National Grid and EDF decided to open access to the link, without any reservation made for any particular firm. According to the Commission, the granting of priority transport to a give firm - EDF in this case - would have represented an abuse of a potentially dominant position, discriminatory for other operators. RTE has also reviewed the electricity transit system in France, so as to enable operators established in other Member States of the continent wanting to use the United Kingdom-France interconnector not to have their plans impeded by a restrictive distribution of transit rights in France. RTE will bear the cost of the congestion and losses in France.