Mineral Wealth as a Developmental Prospect for Thrace

Participation of Leonidas Bakouras, General Director of Thracean Mining, in the GREEN DEAL 2025 Conference

The utilization of mineral wealth can provide Greece with developmental prospects, this was one of the conclusions that emerged from the proceedings of the GREEN DEAL conference, organized by the Technical Chamber of Greece. Its president, Giorgos Stasinos, stated that: “The Green Deal and the new digital economy are now transforming together into a new reality, aiming for Resilience.”

Representing Eldorado Gold, the General Director of Thracean Mining, Mr. Leonidas Bakouras, participated in the conference, speaking on the panel entitled “Energy and Mineral Resources.” During his statement, Mr. Bakouras noted that the Environmental Impact Assessment for the Perama mining and metallurgical project will be submitted to the Ministry of Environment and Energy in the coming December. The study is being prepared in collaboration with the country’s leading universities, while the project’s design is aligned with international Best Available Practices.

Mr. Bakouras also emphasized the need for direct engagement with local communities and the importance of providing tangible benefits to them so that mining projects can immediately reflect their positive impact. The policy of open, direct, and transparent dialogue with local communities is fundamental to Eldorado Gold, the parent company of “Hellenic Gold,” which operates the Kassandra Mines in Chalkidiki, as well as “Thracean Mining.”

Eldorado Gold is one of the largest direct foreign investors in Greece. As Mr. Bakouras mentioned, the company currently employs over 3,500 people at the Kassandra Mines, a number that is expected to increase significantly in the coming years, along with the overall developmental footprint of the investment in the wider region, as confirmed by a relevant study conducted by IOBE (Foundation for Economic & Industrial Research).

At the same time, a pioneering environmental monitoring program will be implemented at the Kassandra Mines, and, by extension, at the Perama project, involving hundreds of sensors and innovative methods that demonstrate, in practice, the modernization of mining activities, which now fully align with the broader effort toward achieving the “Green Transition.”

All the details of the design for the Perama project will be thoroughly discussed during the Public Consultation process, which will begin following the submission of the Environmental Impact Assessment to the Ministry of Environment and Energy. The goal is for local communities to become active participants in the project’s planning through participatory processes and productive dialogue, as the Perama project represents a substantial investment proposal for the broader region of Thrace. In this context, informational meetings will also be held with local scientific bodies, while accessibility for all residents to information regarding the Perama project is being expanded through specially designed Info Kiosks, currently in preparation.

Furthermore, the Perama mining–metallurgical project, through its Social Investment Program, strengthens the local social fabric by supporting various organizations and structures within the broader local community.

The GREEN DEAL 2025 conference was held this year for the fifth consecutive time, and during its proceedings, government officials made it clear that the utilization of mineral wealth through modern and responsible methods constitutes a national priority.