Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis ruled out any return to coal-fired energy production in Western Macedonia during an investment event in Ptolemaida on August 28, 2026.
Speaking at the presentation of a major agricultural initiative by the company Wonderplant, Mitsotakis emphasized that anyone telling local residents that the region could revert to lignite coal was lying to them.
The prime minister highlighted Greece's strategic shift toward renewable energy sources and natural gas as part of a broader national energy transition. He acknowledged the historical reliance of Western Macedonia on coal mining and power generation, noting that the economic identity of the region had been closely tied to lignite for decades.
Hydroponic Tomato Greenhouse in Mavropigi
The event in Ptolemaida centered on Wonderplant's investment of 130 million euros to build a modern hydroponic greenhouse for tomato production. The new facility will be constructed in Mavropigi, located within the municipality of Eordaia.
Hydroponic agriculture allows crops to be cultivated without soil using nutrient-infused water systems. The technique enables precise environmental control, reducing water consumption while maximizing agricultural output in industrial transition zones.
Job Creation Targets and Regional Support
Mitsotakis assured the community that the Greek government will mobilize all available resources to support Western Macedonia during the transition away from fossil fuels. He emphasized that the administration is prioritizing the attraction of new private investments and the generation of sustainable local employment.
Numerous investment projects are already underway across the region, according to the prime minister. He set an explicit goal for the new economic model to generate more jobs than were previously dependent, directly or indirectly, on the traditional lignite sector.
Government Strategy for Industry and Manufacturing
Addressing the economic direction of the country, Mitsotakis stated that supporting industry, manufacturing, and export-oriented business remains a central policy choice of his government.
Western Macedonia has long functioned as the energy centerpiece of mainland Greece, with major lignite mines and thermal power plants concentrated around Kozani and Ptolemaida. The planned phaseout of coal aims to align the area with European decarbonization goals while transitioning former mining communities toward green technology and high-tech agriculture.
