Greece signs mining lease with Metallurgical Thrace for 18.13-square-kilometre area
Greece’s Ministry of Environment and Energy has signed a lease agreement with Metallurgical Thrace for the public mining area known as E5 “Konos,” covering 18.13 square kilometres in the regional units of Rhodope and Meriç (Evros), near Sapes.
The agreement grants the company mining exploration and exploitation rights in the area and provides for additional mineral exploration, according to a report published by Greek news outlet Gnomi on 19 October 2026.
Despoina Paliarouta, secretary-general for Energy and Mineral Raw Materials at the ministry, said the agreement marked an important step towards advancing exploration and assessing the area’s mineral potential within the applicable institutional and environmental framework.
In a statement announcing the signing, Paliarouta said the agreement also established the framework for the next stages of the process, following a lengthy administrative procedure. The signing took place on 13 October, according to her statement.
LOCAL AUTHORITIES AND RESIDENTS RAISE OBJECTIONS
The agreement has drawn strong opposition from local stakeholders in Rhodope and Meriç (Evros), according to Gnomi. A coordination committee has been established to seek the reversal of the ministry’s decision.
During a recent meeting, members of the Alexandroupoli (Dedeağaç) Municipal Council called for immediate and forceful protests. The council ultimately approved the municipality’s participation in the coordination committee as an initial step.
Further decisions on possible demonstrations and other measures are expected to be discussed at a meeting of the municipal committee towards the end of October, the report said.
FURTHER EXPLORATION PLANNED
The lease provides for supplementary mineral exploration in the E5 “Konos” public mining area. While the ministry has presented the agreement as a step towards evaluating the region’s mineral resources, local opposition remains focused on reversing the decision.
The report did not provide details of the planned exploration schedule, the investment value or the potential environmental impact of the proposed activities.
