The procedures for the implementation of the provisions of the “AEGIS” program are being accelerated with the aim of the total upgrade of the Civil Protection mechanism in Greece. According to Civil Protection sources, the tenders for upgrading and strengthening the weather stations as well as those for the supply of meteorological radars are expected to start from mid-October. Specifically, as Civil Protection sources report, from the beginning of July, with the actions of the Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Vassilis Kikilia, the maturation procedures were accelerated, with the result that the tenders for the above were aired by the Information Society, in the media October.

In particular, regarding the weather stations, the supply of 50-60 systems of hydrological automatic weather stations, 12 systems of electric discharge sensors, 2 systems of satellite stations, 2 systems of base stations as well as 2 systems for receiving, processing and visualizing satellite data is foreseen. Also, next month, the tenders are expected to go live for the supply of meteorological radars, namely 6-8 meteorological radars, a “nowcasting” system, i.e. forecasting weather in a very short term period as well as a system for producing automated updates and warnings.

The cost of the above interventions is estimated to exceed 40 million euros, while the “Aegis” program has a total budget of 1.97 billion euros.

The national Civil Protection program “Aegis” includes a series of diverse but also targeted interventions to strengthen infrastructure and technical equipment, upgrade human resources skills and knowledge, integrate information and communication technologies and promote innovation in the field of Civil Protection.

The “AEGIS” program is divided into four axes concerning the upgrading of infrastructure and facilities, warning systems and means of prevention, equipment and means of support and coordination as well as operational equipment and means of response.

Strengthening, upgrading and supplying new prevention and measurement systems is at the center of the planning of the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection. By the end of December this year until the beginning of January 2024, the relevant tenders are expected to start, which will concern prevention and measurement systems for risks from fires, floods, earthquakes and volcanoes, as well as for severe weather phenomena. As Civil Protection sources point out, the project is in the study phase and foresees the supply of new prevention and measurement systems as well as the strengthening and upgrading of existing networks with modern technology, with its cost estimated at 52 million euros.

At the same time, the next fire season is also under the planning microscope with the aim of upgrading preparation and strengthening prevention. For this reason, the procedures for the procurement of detection and extinguishing drones, a project estimated at around 13.6 million euros, are being accelerated. As circles of the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection emphasize, with the actions of the minister, B. Kikilia, the maturation procedures for the supply of detection and extinguishing drones were accelerated and other specifications were added in order to receive as many as possible at the beginning of the coming fire fighting season drones. Emphasis will also be placed on the protection and fireproofing of the archaeological sites. In particular, according to Civil Protection sources, after the acceleration of the maturation procedures, the tender for the fire detection and warning systems for archaeological sites is expected to “go live” in October, a project estimated at 12.4 million euros .