The municipality of Iraklia holds a 30-year lease (starting from 17 November 2020) for the exploitation and management of the Lithotopos-Iraklia geothermal field with the right of unilateral extension of up to 20 additional years subject to the terms of the lease and environmental protection. The cooperation agreement provides the framework for cooperation between the two parties for the undertaking of the development of the geothermal field, which is expected to help strengthen the local economy and society.
The Memorandum of Cooperation is valid for 5 years, does not create legal commitments, and reflects the need for cooperation between the Municipality of Iraklia and HSGME in geothermal issues in the following five (5) main axes:
Cooperation in the development, sustainable exploitation, and monitoring of the Lithotopos-Iraklia geothermal field;
Collaboration in further systematic investigation of the geothermal field of Lithotopos-Iraklia geothermal field to increase its potential;
Cooperation and development of joint actions for the sustainable management of the Lithotopos-Iraklia geothermal field and ensuring the sustainability of the geothermal resource;
Providing scientific information and information on geothermal issues, both in general and specifically for the Lithotopos-Iraklia geothermal field;
Establishment, jointly, of Working Groups consisting of specialists from other Research Institutes and/or Higher Education Institutions for the optimal treatment of specific scientific and technical issues.
A detailed presentation of the actions that can be developed in the aforementioned axes of the Memorandum of Cooperation as well as other actions related to the exploitation of the Lithotopos-Iraklia geothermal field will take place in a public open informational event planned in the near future.
According to the Press Release of the Municipality of Iraklia, on the occasion of the signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation, the Mayor of Iraklia Mr. Kleanthis Kotsakiachidis thanks: (a) the Board of Directors of H.S.G.M.E. and the Director General Mr. Dionysios Gkoutis for the approval and signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation, (b) Dr. Apostolos Arvanitis, Head of the Geothermal Department of H.S.G.M.E. for the proposal to conclude the Memorandum of Cooperation and the formation of the axes of this Cooperation, and (c) the Municipal Council of the Municipality of Iraklia for its unanimous decision on July 18, 2024 regarding the conclusion of the Memorandum of Cooperation.
The Memorandum of Cooperation on Geothermal Energy issues between HSGME and the Municipality of Iraklia is the first Memorandum of Cooperation signed between HSGME and a Municipality that has leased a Geothermal Field of “local interest” (T<= 90 °C). For the first time and with this activity, HSGME seeks to give the possibility to the Municipality of Iraklia and later and gradually to each Municipality and tenant of Geothermal Potential to know and inform that it will have the scientific support and guidance in the enormous effort for the exploitation and/or management of a Geothermal Field.
