Non-energy-transforming actions in Western Macedonia

In March 2019, the then-mayor of Kozani, Lazaros Maloutas, proposed the creation of a ‘multifunctional dynamic farm’. In May, he proposed to adopt models of economic development and turn to new sectors, such as renewable energy sources, greenhouses using district heating, with the municipality creating the infrastructure for hydroponics and irrigation.

In June 2020, during a visit in Kastoria, the President of the Furriers Association, Apostolos Tsoukas, argued that the fur sector could be a strong pillar of growth and employment at the regional level, and submitted a set of proposals on behalf of the furriers. More specifically, he asked for support for the creation and operation of an International Fur Auction in Kastoria. In May 2021, Kozani prefecture MP from New Democracy Party (center-right), George Amanatidis, proposed a smart agriculture project, which could include several steps, such as: the irrigation of the Northern Zone of Lake Polyphytos, with an area of approximately 50,000 acres; the installation of a photovoltaic station to meet the energy needs required; the implementation of the Sarigol irrigation project in Western Macedonia with the use of water that would be transferred from Lake Polyphytos through the reservoirs of Petrana and Drepano.

Further reading

The World Bank (2020): Green Region Pathway for Western Macedonia. Read here.