The participation of the General Director of Thracean Mining in the 2nd Thessaloniki Investment Forum
The prospects for upgrading Greece in the pan-European ranking of mineral-producing countries were presented at the 2nd Thessaloniki Investment Forum by the General Director of Thracean Mining, Mr. Leonidas Bakouras.
In an interview he gave to the director of CNN Greece, Dimitris Pefanis, Mr. Bakouras explained that Greece possesses significant mineral wealth—especially in its northern part—which, if mapped and utilized properly and with low-impact technologies, can strengthen both the local and national economy, while also enhancing the country’s overall development prospects and securing Greece a high position on Europe’s mining map.
Eldorado Gold, the parent company of Thracean Mining and Hellas Gold, is already moving in this direction, as its presence at the Kassandra Mines in Halkidiki has generated significant economic benefits for the broader region and has created strong prospects for increasing local and national GDP. In addition, in the first half of 2026, it will inaugurate the commercial operation of the emblematic Skouries mine. The Skouries Mine is considered a model by European standards, and its commercial operation—scheduled for the first half of 2026—will substantially contribute to achieving the European goal of self-sufficiency in Critical Raw Materials. It is worth noting that the Skouries Mine received its permits before the European Directive on self-sufficiency in Critical Raw Materials, reinforcing its pioneering status.
Meanwhile, through Eldorado Gold’s second subsidiary in Greece, Thracean Mining, another modern mining-metallurgical project is being planned in Perama, Evros.
As Mr. Bakouras explained, the Environmental Impact Assessment for the Perama project will be submitted to the Ministry of Environment and Energy within December, while the company is strengthening dialogue with local communities by presenting and analyzing its positions and plans with arguments and transparency, since social acceptance is a necessary precondition for the project’s implementation. He also emphasized that in the coming period, an environmental monitoring system will be installed in the area where the company operates, which will form the basis of the Integrated Environmental Monitoring System, should the project be approved. However, it is worth noting that under the monitoring system now being designed, “authorities and institutions will be able to participate—bodies from the Technical Chamber, the Region, and the Municipalities—so that we win the trust of the local community by demonstrating that we set strict safeguards for environmental safety,” Mr. Bakouras said.
Finally, Mr. Bakouras stressed the importance of the metallurgical nature of the Perama project, as under its design, the ore will be mined and processed up to its final form (doré). This means that the added value generated in Thrace increases through proper and environmentally safe mining activity—an area in which Eldorado Gold has been fully consistent throughout its long-standing presence in Greece.
The Perama project carries a construction capital of over $430 million, will generate revenues of over $340 million for the Greek state, and royalties to be paid to the state and neighboring municipalities are estimated at more than $125 million.