Zeolite of Thrace

The decision has been made. Hellenic Zeolite is now an official and institutional reality, as the licence to operate the zeolite quarry has been granted. After years of a national struggle, we are witnessing the liberation of Greek Zeolite from bureaucracy. Now, Greek Zeolite will be able to meet Greece’s needs whilst also reducing reliance on foreign Zeolite imports and, of course, subsequently becoming an export product to generate even greater revenue for Greece. There are more and more of us, all those who believed that this miracle could be achieved even under the current circumstances, and we would like ... Read more

Approval of Environmental Conditions for the operation of a quarry site for industrial minerals (zeolite) covering an area of 83,427.30 m² at the location ‘Kokkalo’, in the Petrota postcode area, Municipality of Orestiada, Regional Unit of Evros, by the company ‘OLYMPOS S.A. INDUSTRIAL MINERALS’ and approval of the accompanying Mining Waste Management Plan (MWMP). Source: Diafania 

Greek zeolite is bringing to light more and more issues that border on the absurd. Years ago, we fought to see mining take place in Greece for the first time, particularly in Thrace, so that the region could develop through a resource of national significance. For years, Greek bureaucracy held up this development, with the result that the local residents no longer believed that anything would ever happen. Eventually, we witnessed a shift in focus towards other areas, different from the original ones, but always close to Petrota. These new exploration licences acted as a catalyst and were bolstered by ... Read more

Opinion on the approval of the environmental conditions set out in the Environmental Impact Assessment for the operation of a zeolite quarry covering an area of 83,427.30 square metres at the site ‘Kokkalo’ in the Community of Petrota, Municipality of Orestiada, Regional Unit of Evros, by ‘OLYMPOS S.A. INDUSTRIAL MINERALS’

The struggle for Greek zeolite is comparable to the struggle for the Greek Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) because it is a matter of national importance. We must therefore set aside local disputes and realise that the battle is not solely a matter for the courts. The crux of the matter lies elsewhere. Greek zeolite is one of our strategic reserves for the economy, just as the hydrocarbons and methane hydrates in the Greek EEZ are. zeolite, however, is more easily accessible, as it consists of surface deposits located on dry land. There are therefore no cross-border difficulties regarding its extraction ... Read more

A new exploration licence has been granted by the Decentralised Administration of Kavala for Greek zeolite in the Mavri Petra area, near Petrota in Northern Evros. Thus, the Thessaloniki-based company Olympus is continuing its research efforts, whilst at the same time awaiting the final permits to proceed to the general mining licence in the Kokkalo area, which is, of course, also located near Petrota. In practical terms, this means that work is being carried out in parallel to save time and lay the groundwork for the future, ensuring continuity with other deposits. This also highlights the significance of the whole ... Read more

Interview with N. Lygeros on Radio Elpida 96.1FM regarding the geostrategic position of Thrace, Greek zeolite and the utilisation of natural gas, on 22 April 2016.

Crete must find a clever way to combine tourism, olive oil production and energy. The key ingredients for the success of this endeavour are Greek innovation, zeolite from Thrace and natural gas from southern Crete. The whole framework must be managed strategically, as critical decisions for the future will need to be taken. In other words, Crete’s endeavour is a practical one and no longer merely theoretical generalisation. There must be coordination of efforts between the Regional Authority, the municipalities and the Hydrocarbons Master’s programme at the Technological Educational Institute of Heraklion. In this way, we will see the application ... Read more

Professor Nikos Lygeros in an interview on Radio Maximum with D. Kollios, discussing Greek zeolite and the investment in Petrota. 12/04/2016 source: Nikos Lygeros YouTube channel

Lecture by Professor Nikos Lygeros on the topic: ‘Tourism and Cultural Heritage’, at the Tholaria Cultural Centre on Amorgos. Source

A lecture by Professor Nikos Lygeros on zeolite, entitled ‘The Value of Zeolite’, held in the multi-purpose hall of the Chora secondary school on Amorgos.

5th Master Class on Spatial and Temporal Strategy. Othonoi, 25–28 August 2015