Zeybek: “High-energy agricultural facilities must be included in subsidy scheme”
Hüseyin Zeybek, MP for Xanthi representing the New Left party, has submitted a parliamentary question regarding the energy subsidy measures announced by the Ministry of Environment and Energy on April 25. Zeybek criticized the exclusion of high-energy-consuming agricultural production facilities from the scheme, calling the decision “unacceptable” and urging the government to revise its plan.
According to the ministry’s announcement, agricultural enterprises are eligible for an energy subsidy of €0.02 per kWh, while bakeries, pastry shops, and dry cleaners will receive support at €0.04 per kWh—a higher rate applied regardless of turnover and based solely on total energy consumption.
Zeybek argued that the current plan excludes many key agricultural facilities, including poultry farms, livestock units, greenhouses, olive oil and cheese production plants, and cold storage units, all of which consume significant amounts of energy and are vital for rural development and food security.
“The categorization of these facilities under the lower subsidy tier creates regional disparities,” Zeybek stated. “In times of crisis and high inflation, the agricultural sector should be treated as a national priority.”
He emphasized that agricultural production cannot be separated from energy policy, warning that excluding these facilities would have negative consequences for the entire food supply chain.
Zeybek submitted the following questions to the Ministry:
- What criteria were used to determine which businesses qualify for the higher energy subsidy, and why were agricultural facilities that rely heavily on electricity excluded?
- Will the government reconsider its decision and include high-energy-consuming agricultural facilities in the €0.04/kWh support category?
