The construction of the gas network with a horizon of completion has started 2023
They will be connected, with 100% subsidy, 5.000 household and commercial consumers
Acritic Florina is entering a new energy era, after the start of the large expansion project of the gas distribution network in the area. The signal for the start of the project was given by its CEO HEDNO, Marios Tsakas in a special event co-organized by the HEDNO and Municipality of Florina yesterday in Florina.
The event was honored by the presence of the Minister of Development and Investment Mr.. Adonis Georgiades, the Deputy Minister of Development and Investment Mr.. Nikos Papathanasis, the Deputy Minister of Transport Mr.. Michalis Papadopoulos, the Special Secretary ERDF and CF Program Management, K. George Zervos, the Regional Governor of Western Macedonia, Mr.. George Kasapidis, the Deputy Regional Head of the Florina Regional Unit, Mr.. Sotirios Vosdou, the head of the Office of the Prime Minister in Thessaloniki Mrs. Maria Antoniou, the mayor of Florina Mr.. Vassilis Giannakis, as well as representatives of the social, political and economic life of the place.
The Minister of Development and Investment Mr.. Adonis Georgiades he stated, including: "Until December 2023 the work will be done. The absolute commitment of the absorption of resources from the NSRF ’14 - ’20, which ends as an opportunity to spend on 31 December 23rd and the fact that the next NSRF can not finance gas projects, make absolutely binding the need for the project to have been implemented by that date. So this is an important day. In the coldest region of Greece, in the area where the cold in winter can kill you, we provide a cheap energy source. And because it was heard by the CEO of DEDA, Mr. Tsaka, the hydrogen experiment, if God has us well, we will be with the Regional Governor here in a few years to inaugurate the largest hydrogen production unit in Greece ".
From his side, the Deputy Minister of Development and Investment Mr.. Nikos Papathanasis write down: <<The latest 5 – 6 years, lignite production decreased by approx 50%. This may mean that we have a long way to go but we have a plan. And this project that we are launching today is the "child" of the period that mediated from the decision of the Prime Minister until today. He is the first "child". And we have a lot of "kids" going on, such as the business support program as it emerged from the Green Fund. Ή the program for the training of the unemployed. In total, provided that 7,5 billions of public and private resources will be mobilized in the region>>.
The CEO of DEDA, Marios Tsakas underlined during his speech: «From the acritic Florina, we are putting into practice DEDA's vision for Greece 2030: the equal access of all Greek men and women to the great good of energy. The project will mobilize investments over 40 million. euro, bringing gas to the Florina area through 5.000 household and business connections, with 100% subsidizing the cost of indoor installation. This investment will be, at the same time, important pillar of development of the region, by creating many new jobs ".
And he added: «To implement such a large project in such a short time, perfect coordination and strong political will are required. In this case we had it all. From the visionary, but a difficult decision for DEDA to implement a project that did not exist in its program- because as is well known with the old design Florina would be covered by district heating- until the inclusion of the project in EPANEK, his auction and, end, its approval by the Court of Auditors ", expressing his thanks to him Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis for his decisive support to the administration and the work of DEDA, as well as to all stakeholders: the Minister of Energy and Environment Mr.. Costa Skreka, the Minister of Development and Investment, Mr.. Adonis Georgiadis, the Deputy Minister of Development and Investment Mr.. Nikos Papathanasis, the Secretary General of Energy and Mineral Raw Materials Mrs. Alexandra Sdoukou, the Regional Governor of Western Macedonia Mr.. George Kasapidis, the head of the Office of the Prime Minister in Thessaloniki Mrs. Maria Antoniou, as well as the mayor of Florina Mr.. Vassilis Giannakis.
With this great work, continued the CEO of DEDA, «the Florina will be transformed into an energy and strategic hub for the region of Western Macedonia, but also the very geographically sensitive region of the Western Balkans. Alongside, will be the great example of the transition to the new energy era through democratization and greening of energy ".
As pointed out by Mr.. Tsakas, Florina is an important one, but not the only "station" of DEDA in Western Macedonia. Gas distribution infrastructure is being implemented, yet, in Kastoria, Maniacs, Argos Orestikou and Grevena. in addition to, other cities in the wider area will be connected to the gas network Ptolemaida and Kozani, such as Perdiccas, the Mavrodendri, the Sickle and the Crocus.
"All these areas", continued Mr.. Tsakas, "Are part of the ambitious Development Plan of DEDA which is the largest project for the expansion of natural gas distribution networks that is being implemented, today, in Europe. DEDA brings gas to 36 cities of the country, with 2.000 new network kilometers and more than 170.000 new consumer connections. These are tall projects 300 million. euro until the 2025, which in full growth mobilize total direct and indirect investments 1 billion. euro and create 6.000 new job positions».
These investments are an important legacy for the future, after the DEDA is the first Natural Gas Distribution Manager in Greece to proceed with the "greening" of its networks, so that they can distribute new gaseous fuels, with minimal to zero carbonate footprint, such as biomethane and hydrogen.
In Western Macedonia, in fact, will be implemented within it 2022 the first, in GREECE, pilot project for production, distribution and use of hydrogen from natural gas. This pilot project will concern the full coverage of the needs for electricity and heating of a settlement ("Hydrogen Village").
The "identity" of the project
The project in Florina provides for construction as a whole 102,5 kilometers of gas distribution network with a horizon of completion at the end of 2023. The network will not be limited to the residential fabric of Florina, but will extend to the industrial area and villages of the municipality of Florina, thus meeting a large part of the energy needs in an area where low temperatures prevail most of the time.
Consumer connections of all categories will be made in parallel with the construction works of the network (household, commercial, industrial), as well as connections of public buildings, such as health facilities and schools.
The play mobilizes investments over 40 million. of which:
- 20,9 million. euro (plus VAT.) is the project budget for the development of low and medium pressure gas network in the city of Florina, which is co-financed by EPANEK under the NSRF 2014-2020 with the participation of national and European resources from the European Regional Development Fund and implemented by DEDA.
- Additional amount funding 20 million. euro has been secured by EPANEK for 100% subsidy the cost of indoor installation 5.000 domestic and commercial consumers to be connected to the gas network in Florina.