Gold mining plans in Thrace face growing local opposition
Plans for gold exploration and mining in Thrace are facing renewed opposition, with the Alexandroupoli (Dedeağaç) Municipal Council set to discuss the issue following the Eastern Macedonia and Thrace Regional Council’s decision to establish a coordination committee to examine possible responses to the government’s latest move.
The dispute centres on a decision by Greece’s Ministry of Environment and Energy to lease public mining rights in the E5 mining area near Sapes (Şapçı), covering 18.3 square kilometres, to Metalleutiki Thrakis for exploration and exploitation. According to Gnomi Online, the lease is for five years, with an option to extend it by 30 years.
The developments have prompted renewed debate over the environmental, economic and social implications of gold mining in the region, as local authorities and anti-mining groups call for the decision to be reconsidered.
REGIONAL COORDINATION COMMITTEE TO EXAMINE OPTIONS
The Eastern Macedonia and Thrace Regional Council has decided to establish a coordination committee chaired by Regional Governor Christodoulos Topsidis. It will include the mayors of Dedeağaç (Alexandroupoli), Gümülcine (Komotini) and Maroneia-Sapes, as well as representatives of the Technical Chamber of Greece’s Thrace department and the inter-prefectural committee opposing gold mining in Rhodope (Rodopi) and Meriç (Evros).
The committee’s planned work includes collecting and assessing available information on the lease decision and its potential environmental, economic, social and development impacts. It will also examine the technical, scientific and legal aspects of the case, explore possible administrative or judicial appeals, and consider potential approaches to relevant European Union bodies if necessary.
The move follows a unanimous decision by the Soufli Municipal Council reaffirming its opposition to the mining investment. The Dedeağaç Municipal Council is also due to consider its position, with Mayor Giannis Zampoukis expected to introduce the issue.
MITSOTAKIS HIGHLIGHTS MINING INVESTMENT AT SKOURIES
The debate in Thrace comes as Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis promotes mining investment elsewhere in northern Greece. On October 8, he attended the inauguration of a new copper and gold mine operated by Hellas Gold at Skouries in Halkidiki.
Mitsotakis described the project as a potential model for further investments, particularly in northern Greece, which he said has significant untapped mineral resources. He highlighted negotiations with the company over environmental standards, changes to the investment plan and the treatment of mining waste.
The prime minister also stressed the importance of local acceptance, saying that projects of this kind cannot proceed without the participation and support of the local community. He argued that modern technology and strict environmental controls could help limit impacts while generating well-paid jobs.
ANTI-MINING GROUPS AND LOCAL OFFICIALS RAISE CONCERNS
Members of the inter-prefectural committee opposing gold mining in Rhodope and Meriç described the prime minister’s remarks as expected and warned against any attempt to secure local consent through pressure. In comments to public broadcaster ERT’s Orestiada and Gümülcine services, representatives warned that forcing acceptance of mining could deepen social divisions in Thrace.
Soufli Mayor Panagiotis Kalakikos has also called for the lease decision to be revoked. In a public statement, he raised concerns about possible impacts on groundwater and surface water, soil, ecosystems and public health, arguing that decisions with long-term consequences for the region should not be imposed without meaningful local participation.
Kalakikos also referred to the region’s demographic and development challenges, arguing for a development model that protects the natural environment, creates opportunities for young people and strengthens social cohesion.
POLITICAL OPPOSITION QUESTIONS ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL COSTS
The regional coordinating committees of the Greek Left Alliance (ELAS) in Eastern Macedonia and Thrace have also criticised the government’s approach, framing the issue as a conflict between mining-led investment and environmental protection.
In its statement, the group raised questions about water resources, mining waste and ecosystem impacts. It also questioned how much added economic value would remain in Greece, arguing that the distribution of economic benefits and environmental costs should be examined.
The group said local authorities and the regional council had expressed opposition to gold mining in Sapes and Perama, and called on the government to take local concerns into account.
The proposed lease and the response it has triggered have put local consent, environmental safeguards and the long-term development of Thrace at the centre of the debate. The regional coordination committee is expected to assess the available evidence and possible legal or administrative steps as the discussion continues.
