From today, Halki and the Dodecanese will be places of dynamic investments in green growth and the circular economy, which means cheap electricity and new jobs for the residents, noted the Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, during his speech at the event for its inclusion Halki in the GR- eco islands initiative.
“It is also a proof that for our place RES is the only viable solution” stressed Mr. Mitsotakis, and added:
“In this context, the crisis becomes an opportunity, while the strategic position of our country makes it an energy transfer hub. This is the meaning of the recent agreement with Egypt. Such agreements also turn into shields for our borders. Initiatives such as the GR-eco islands are also becoming diplomatic arms, upgrading the country’s position, at a time when the EU is trying to take its first steps towards an autonomy strategy, a development that is not understood without ensuring energy security. autonomy “.
As he explained, the residents in cooperation with the Municipality will produce the energy they consume, practically zeroing the cost of energy. “This model of energy democracy can and should be a model for every island, reducing costs to residents’ bills,” he said.
“We are succeeding here in Halki to pass to the era of prosumers, consumers-producers, who benefit from natural energy sources without additional charges” he added and called on the municipal authorities and other islands to participate in this initiative “and with our help” .
Indicatively, he stated that a bill of 407 euros drops to 157 euros, noting that “this is a bold response not only to the challenge of climate change but also to rising oil and gas prices.”
According to the Prime Minister, it is estimated that 1,800 less tons of carbon dioxide will be emitted per year in Halki, while the goal is to emit 10 million less tons of carbon dioxide by 2030 in all the islands of the country.
He stressed that “what is happening in Halki proves what the private and public sectors can achieve together when they work together”, noting that the total sponsorships exceed 1.5 million euros and added:
“But Halki must be only the beginning. In this direction, the Greek State will spend more than 1.5 billion euros in the coming years, and of course the leverage of private capital will accelerate this effort. In addition, the tourist product is being upgraded. It is a given that tourism development must be sustainable. And the islands that will move faster in this direction will have a comparative advantage. Hence, I encourage the mayor to take the next bold step, to ban traffic in cars with internal combustion engines. It is in your hands together with the support of the Ministry of Energy. The first beneficiaries are the permanent residents of the island “.
As for Halki, Mr. Mitsotakis confirmed, for which he had committed during his previous visit to the island, the government’s decision to relocate the port from the port of Halki to the port of Kania with the relevant transfer of the HEDNO cable, ” so that the new port can receive liner ships to turn this beautiful port here into a high quality tourist destination primarily for yachts “. “Thus Halki is further upgraded as a tourist destination” he noted and added:
“Here in Halki, the green future of development for everyone, for a Greece that is changing. A Greece that stars in the global effort for an even healthier environment, while taking care of the national economy. “There are no more barren lines in the Aegean.”
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