Zeybek questions Eldorado Gold’s mining plans in Western Thrace
İskeçe (Xanthi) MP Hüseyin Zeybek has brought reported mining expansion plans by Canadian-based Eldorado Gold in Western Thrace before the Greek Parliament, asking the government whether it is aware of the company’s plans and whether any related permitting procedures are being considered.
In a parliamentary question submitted to the Ministry of Environment and Energy, Zeybek referred to recent reports concerning Eldorado Gold and its Greek subsidiary Thracean Gold Mining, which holds mining rights in the Sapes and Perama areas. He questioned whether the government intends to facilitate or approve further mining activity in the wider Western Thrace region.
Eldorado Gold’s own 2026 investor materials confirm that the company is advancing its Perama Hill gold-silver project in Thrace and sees exploration potential in the wider region as part of its growth pipeline. The company submitted an Environmental Impact Assessment for Perama Hill in December 2025 and has said construction could begin as early as 2027 if the necessary approvals are secured.
COMPANY IDENTIFIES THRACE AS PART OF ITS GROWTH PIPELINE
According to Zeybek’s parliamentary submission, an investor presentation reportedly highlighted plans to develop mining activities across multiple areas where gold and copper mineralisation has been identified.
Zeybek said the reported plans go beyond the company’s existing licensed areas and could affect a broader part of Western Thrace, particularly around Sapes and Perama.
Eldorado Gold's publicly available investor materials describe Perama Hill as a high-grade open-pit gold-silver project in Thrace and identify it as the company’s next expected mine after Skouries. The company also says that exploration potential in the Thrace region could support further growth.
The company hosted a Greek asset site tour for analysts and institutional investors from September 15 to 18, 2026, focusing on its Kassandra Mines operations at Skouries and Olympias and its exploration activities in Greece.
SAPES AND PERAMA PROJECTS
Zeybek also referred to mineral exploration around Sapes and other deposits in the region, arguing that further exploration could potentially expand the area of interest for mining operations.
Eldorado Gold's 2026 annual information filing lists the Sapes property separately from Perama Hill. The company says the Sapes project is located about 2 kilometres east of Sapes and is currently under review for future technical, economic, permitting, social and environmental work. Perama Hill and Perama South, meanwhile, are identified as gold-silver deposits in the Thrace region.
The company has described Perama Hill as an eight-year open-pit project based on its current mineral reserves, with estimated annual production of approximately 100,000 ounces of gold. It has also said the project has potential for further mine-life extensions through exploration.
ZEYBEK RAISES ENVIRONMENTAL AND LOCAL COMMUNITY CONCERNS
In his parliamentary question, Zeybek said local communities, municipalities, institutions and civil society organisations in Western Thrace have repeatedly expressed opposition to large-scale gold mining in the region.
He argued that the expansion of mining could have significant consequences for the region’s natural environment, ecosystems, agricultural and other productive activities, as well as residents.
Zeybek said Western Thrace should not be turned into a “huge construction site” for mining operations and called on the government to clarify its position on the reported plans.
His comments represent the MP’s political position and concerns regarding potential mining expansion; the environmental and economic effects of any future projects would depend on the projects proposed, their environmental assessments, regulatory approvals and conditions.
THREE QUESTIONS TO THE ENVIRONMENT MINISTRY
Zeybek asked the Environment and Energy Ministry three questions:
- Whether the government and ministry are aware of plans by Eldorado Gold and its subsidiaries to expand mining activities into a broader area of Western Thrace and, if so, what the scope of those plans is.
- Whether the government intends to approve or advance permitting procedures for developments that Zeybek says could have significant consequences for Western Thrace’s land, environment and residents.
- What concrete steps the ministry intends to take in response to longstanding objections from residents of Western Thrace to the expansion of mining activities, particularly gold mining.
As of September 2026, Eldorado Gold’s public disclosures show that the Perama Hill project is progressing through environmental and permitting processes, while the company continues to identify exploration potential in the wider Thrace region. The company has not, in the sources reviewed, announced a single integrated “gold-copper mining region” covering the broader area in the terms described in Zeybek’s parliamentary submission.
