\n| \n General data<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n \u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n 2015<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n| \n Population<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n million<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n 10.9<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n| \n GDP<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n \u20ac\u00a0billion<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n 175.7<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\nSecurity of supply, low extraction costs and stable prices are important reasons why lignite will maintain a strong position in the Greek energy mix.<\/p>\n Lignite<\/b><\/p>\n Greece boasts lignite resources of 4.6\u00a0billion tonnes and 2.9\u00a0billion tonnes of economically workable reserves.\u00a0 The most important deposits are located in the north of the country at Ptolemais-Amynteon and Florina (1.5\u00a0billion tonnes) which contribute around 80% of production.\u00a0 Other deposits lie at Drama (900\u00a0million tonnes) and at Elassona (170\u00a0million tonnes), as well as in the south at Megalopolis (225\u00a0million tonnes).\u00a0 There is also a large peat deposit of about 4\u00a0billion cubic metres at Philippi in the northern part of Greece (Eastern Macedonia).\u00a0 Only 30% of the total lignite reserves have been extracted to date and remaining reserves are good for over forty years at current production rates.<\/p>\n Lignite deposits in Greece lie at an average depth of 150 to 200\u00a0metres and typically comprise layers of lignite alternating with layers of mineral.<\/p>\n The quality of Greek lignite can be characterised as follows: \u00a0the lowest calorific values are in the areas of Megalopolis and Drama (3\u00a0770 to 5\u00a0020\u00a0kJ\/kg) and Ptolemais-Amynteon (5\u00a0230 to 6\u00a0280\u00a0kJ\/kg).\u00a0 In Florina and Elassona the calorific value lies between 7\u00a0540 and 9\u00a0630\u00a0kJ\/kg.\u00a0 The ash content ranges from 15.1% (Ptolemais) to 19.0% (Elassona), and the water content from 41.0% (Elassona) to 57.9% (Megalopolis).\u00a0 The sulphur content is generally low.<\/p>\n Lignite is mined by the PUBLIC POWER CORPORATION (PPC) exclusively in opencast mines.\u00a0 This majority state-owned company is the largest lignite producer in Greece.\u00a0 It operates mines in Western Macedonia at Main Field, South Field, Kardia Field, Amynteon Field and Florina.\u00a0 PPC also has an opencast site in the Peloponnese region of southern Greece, in the Megalopolis Field.\u00a0 Bucket-wheel excavators, spreaders, tripper cars and conveyor belts are used to mine and transport lignite at these sites.\u00a0 PPC currently operates 48 bucket-wheel excavators and 22 spreaders, together with more than 300\u00a0kilometres of belt conveyors.\u00a0 Heavy trucks are used to remove the hard overburden formations found at some mines.<\/p>\n In 2015, lignite production amounted to 46.0\u00a0million tonnes, mostly mined by PPC, with 35.7\u00a0million tonnes extracted by the company at the West Macedonia Lignite Centre (WMLC) and 8.1\u00a0million tonnes at the Megalopolis Lignite Centre (MLC).\u00a0 The few privately operated mines in the West Macedonia area produced a total of 2.2\u00a0million tonnes of lignite.<\/p>\n In 2015, WMLC operations removed a total of 201.6\u00a0million cubic metres of overburden and interburden, corresponding to an overburden-interburden-to-lignite ratio of 5.6\u00a0cubic metres per tonne.\u00a0 At MLC, overburden plus interburden removal was 28.4\u00a0million cubic metres, corresponding to an overburden-interburden-to-lignite ratio of 3.5:1.\u00a0 Although the overburden-interburden-to-lignite ratio has significantly increased in recent years, it is expected to remain stable in the future.\u00a0 The two mining areas, WMLC and MLC, and the head office in Athens, currently employ a total permanent workforce of about 3\u00a0439.<\/p>\n Environmental protection is one of the major parameters defining PPC\u2019s overall strategy and its daily mining activities.\u00a0 In the lignite mining areas around Ptolemais-Amynteon and Megalopolis, PPC has carried out site restoration projects to create farmland, tree plantations, woodland, sanctuaries for small animals and crop-testing areas.<\/p>\n At the end of 2015, PPC\u2019s power generation plants accounted for 49.2% of the country\u2019s total installed capacity of 22.0\u00a0GW and include lignite- and gas-fired plants, oil-fired plants on interconnected and autonomous islands, hydro plants, wind farms and solar PV plants.\u00a0 There are also seven private power plants with a total capacity of 2\u00a0626\u00a0MW.\u00a0 PPC owns six lignite-fired power plants comprising fourteen units with a total installed capacity of 4\u00a0337\u00a0MW.\u00a0 In 2015, lignite-fired power plants accounted for 46.1% of gross power generation of 48.0\u00a0TWh.\u00a0 The share of gas was 13.6%, oil 10.8%, hydro 11.7%, wind 9.5%, solar 7.8% and biofuels\/waste 0.5%.<\/p>\n Lignite\u2019s future role in Greece will depend on changes taking place in the European energy sector, including the cost of CO2<\/sub> emission allowances.\u00a0 Nevertheless, low-cost domestic lignite is still competitive compared to imported energy sources such as natural gas.\u00a0 PPC faces important changes relating to the regulatory framework governing energy market liberalisation.\u00a0 Strategic priorities now include the replacement of old and inefficient plants and investment in renewable energy sources.\u00a0 The construction of a new 650\u00a0MW lignite-fired power plant at Ptolemaios (unit\u00a0V) started in 2012 and is planned to be operational in 2018.<\/p>\nThe ongoing recession has had a negative impact on other new investments and the government\u2019s \u201cgreen\u201d policy means that while renewables are displacing generation from lignite and natural gas, the cost of producing electricity has increased with consumers asked to pay \u20ac18\/MWh in renewable subsidies.<\/p>\n Greece<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n| \n Coal resources and reserves<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n \u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n \u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n| \n Resources lignite<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n Mt<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n 4\u00a0600<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n| \n Reserves lignite<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n Mt<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n 2\u00a0900<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n| \n Primary energy production<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n \u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n 2015<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n| \n Total primary energy production<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n Mtce<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n 12.1<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n| \n Lignite (saleable output)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n Mt \/ Mtce<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n 45.4 \/ 8.6<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n| \n Saleable coal quality<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n \u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n \u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n| \n Lignite net calorific value<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n kJ\/kg<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n 3\u00a0770\u20119\u00a0630<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n| \n Lignite ash content<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n % a.r.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n 15.1\u201119.0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n| \n Lignite moisture content<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n % a.r.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n 41.0\u201157.9<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n| \n Lignite sulphur content<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n % a.r.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n 0.4\u20111.0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n| \n Coal imports \/ exports<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n \u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n 2015<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n| \n Hard coal imports<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n Mt<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n 0.3<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n| \n Primary energy consumption<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n \u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n 2015<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n| \n Total primary energy consumption<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n Mtce<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n 33.7<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n| \n Hard coal consumption<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n Mtce<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n 0.2<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n| \n Lignite consumption<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n Mtce<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n 7.7<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n| \n Power supply*<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n \u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n 2015<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n| \n Total gross power generation<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n TWh<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n 48.0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n| \n Net power imports (exports)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n TWh<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n 9.6<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n| \n Total power consumption<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n TWh<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n 57.6<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n| \n Power generation from lignite<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n TWh<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n 22.1<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n| \n Lignite power generation capacity<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n MW<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n 4\u00a0337<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n| \n Employment<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n \u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n 2015<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n| \n Direct in lignite mining<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n thousand<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n 4.919<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n| \n Other lignite-related**<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n thousand<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n 2.438<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n* excluding small islands with independent diesel generators
\n** <\/em>e.g. in power generation, equipment supply, services and R&D<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Accounting in 2015 for 23.4% of the country\u2019s primary energy supply of 33.7\u00a0Mtce, lignite is Greece\u2019s most important indigenous energy resource, although the country does have modest oil and gas reserves.\u00a0 At 0.2\u00a0Mtce, hard coal imports accounted for 0.6% of total primary energy supply in 2015. Oil accounted for 47.6% of the country\u2019s primary energy […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":776,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-814","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pipe.euracoal.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/814","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pipe.euracoal.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pipe.euracoal.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pipe.euracoal.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pipe.euracoal.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=814"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/pipe.euracoal.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/814\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pipe.euracoal.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/776"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pipe.euracoal.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=814"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}} | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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Accounting in 2015 for 23.4% of the country\u2019s primary energy supply of 33.7\u00a0Mtce, lignite is Greece\u2019s most important indigenous energy resource, although the country does have modest oil and gas reserves.\u00a0 At 0.2\u00a0Mtce, hard coal imports accounted for 0.6% of total primary energy supply in 2015. Oil accounted for 47.6% of the country\u2019s primary energy supply;\u00a0 Greece has a large refining industry which exports oil products.\u00a0 Consumption of imported natural gas increased significantly until the global economic crisis of 2008, but has since declined.\u00a0 Natural gas had an 11.3% share in primary energy supply in 2015.\u00a0 Electricity imports have grown strongly in recent years to reach 11.1\u00a0TWh in 2015.<\/p>\n![\"el\"](\"https:\/\/pipe.euracoal.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/el.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/div>\n