The strategic zeolite – Nikos Lygeros
Before all our people realise the value of Greek zeolite, they must understand that it is a strategic mineral resource not only for our region of Thrace but for our entire country. Zeolite is not merely a local matter, as some try to portray it. And the sedimentary variety – that is, the natural form – is a resource of intrinsic value with countless applications across a wide range of fields, from science and technology and everyday life, including agriculture and livestock farming. So, if we bear in mind the size of the Greek deposits in Thrace and, at the same time, global annual consumption, we can appreciate its strategic value.
This is because Greek zeolite meets all the necessary strategic criteria in terms of size, concentration and cost. And its applications enable us to achieve added value even in objective terms, which radically changes the landscape for our products on a global scale without any practical difficulties, apart, of course, from the fact that we must overcome the mental inertia of some in the field of bureaucracy. For even the judicial sector has now moved forward with rulings and actions at national level. On the other hand, as zeolite is environmentally friendly, its extraction does not pose any ecological difficulties. And this is extremely important to us because a product, whatever its value, is meaningless if it permanently destroys our country’s environment. Greek zeolite is of strategic importance, and this message must be conveyed to all stakeholders in politics, the chambers of commerce and industry, as well as businesses, as we need integrated development to make the most of the potential it offers us. Zeolite must be be freed from obstacles and integrated into our daily lives so that it brings about a paradigm shift in the way we approach not only our region of Thrace but our entire homeland, enabling us to remain free Greeks.