Thrace political group opposes government gold mining lease

The regional political group ‘Independent United Initiative’ has submitted a formal resolution to the Regional Council of East Macedonia and Thrace, calling for the immediate revocation of a government decision to lease mining area E5. The decision, issued by the Ministry of Environment and Energy on September 23, 2026, grants a lease for an 18.13 km² area in the municipalities of Sapes and Alexandroupolis to the company ‘Thrace Mining S.A.’.

Group leader Stergios Iliopoulos argues that the decision was made without consultation with local authorities and bypasses long-standing opposition from local communities. The group claims the proposed ‘Sapes Gold Mining Project’ poses irreversible risks to the environment, including potential contamination of the water table, soil, and atmosphere, which could impact public health and the region’s primary economic sectors such as agriculture, livestock, and tourism.

The resolution demands a cross-party condemnation of the ministerial decision and seeks all necessary legal measures to cancel the mining proceedings in Sapes and Perama.