Greece signs 87.9 million‑euro irrigation project in Crete

Lasithi irrigation project Greece public‑private partnership GEK TERNA 87.9 million euros

The Greek Ministry of Rural Development and Food, led by Minister Margaritis Schoinas, together with Deputy Minister Nikos Papathanasis, signed a public‑private partnership contract for a major irrigation scheme in the Lasithi region of Crete. The project, named “Lake reservoir in Chochlai and related works – Saint John dam Ierapetra”, will be implemented by the private firm GE K TERNA A.E. and has a total budget of €87.9 million, of which €18.58 million comes from state funds under the PPP special programme and €69.32 million will be paid as availability payments, including VAT.

The works include a 825 000‑cubic‑metre earthen reservoir, water‑transfer and distribution infrastructure, pumping stations, and a 52‑metre high dam with a 1.7‑million‑cubic‑metre capacity. The infrastructure will irrigate roughly 6 000 ha in the Chochlai‑Sitia area and about 7 500 ha in the Ierapetra area. The concession lasts 25 years; the first phase for the Sitia municipality should be completed and operational within 18 months, with the entire scheme expected to finish in 42 months.

Entities: Crete · GEK TERNA A.E. · GEK TERNA AE · Lasithi · Lasithi region · Margaritis Schoinas · Nikos Papathanasi · Nikos Papathanasis

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[● 4 SOURCES] The contract for the irrigation project in Lasithi, Crete, was signed by Minister Margaritis Schoinas and Deputy Minister Nikos Papathanasi. (All articles)
[● 4 SOURCES] Public funding contribution to the project is €18.58 million. (All articles)
[● 4 SOURCES] The concession period for the project is 25 years. (All articles)
[● 4 SOURCES] The project includes an earth‑filled reservoir of about 825,000 m³ at Chochlaia and a 52‑metre high dam at Agios Ioannis. (All articles)
[● 4 SOURCES] The infrastructure will supply water for approximately 6,000–7,500 ha of irrigated land, with the first phase to be operational within 18 months and the whole project within 42 months. (All articles)
[● 4 SOURCES] The project's total budget is €87.9 million. (All articles)
[● 4 SOURCES] The remaining €69.32 million will be paid as availability payments. (All articles)
[● 4 SOURCES] GEK TERNA AE is the private entity tasked with implementing the project. (All articles)
[● 4 SOURCES] The project will irrigate about 6 000 ha in the Chochlai area and about 7 500 ha in the Ierapetra area. (Project description released by the ministry.)
[● 4 SOURCES] The total budget of the project is €87.9 million. (Project details released by the Greek ministry.)
[● 4 SOURCES] GE K TERNA A.E. is the private partner tasked with implementing the project. (Official announcement by the Greek ministry and GE K TERNA.)
[● 4 SOURCES] €18.58 million of the budget is the state funding contribution from the PPP special programme. (Project financing breakdown disclosed by the ministry.)