The Minister of Environment and Energy emphasized the importance of water management in Greece Theodoros Skylakakisin the context of the 5th Olympia Forum, which takes place from today until October 20, underlining that, despite the abundance of water in Western Greece, its management remains a challenge.

Mr. Skylakakis referred to the energy costs associated with desalination and water transportation, pointing out that by reducing energy costs, water prices will be significantly lower in the future. He also pointed out the need to combine the energy and hydrological systems for more efficient management.

“In the future we will have many countries where energy prices will be zero or negative. This means that you will be able to combine the two systems – the energy and the hydrological – together for the next decades, that is to take into account these periods which can be whole years with very low prices and in any case they will be much lower from now”, he said characteristically.

For his part, the managing director of EYDAP, Haris Sahinis, announced that the company is aiming for zero carbon by 2035, announcing measures for drainage and wastewater treatment. He also presented alternative solutions, such as water recycling, in order to reduce the need for drinking water, while he referred to projects for the supply of irrigation and industrial water in Attica.

“We are preparing such a project, the invitation is issued for the study concerning the industrial zone that is on the coast of Attica to provide water for irrigation and industrial use. Desalination and water recycling were the main points that Mr. Sahinis spoke of and he also presented ways to recycle water and especially its management”, he noted.

In closing, Mr. Skylakakis underlined the importance of reforms in water management, pointing out that water supply agencies must have access to loans in order to carry out necessary projects. In this context, investments will be made to support the DEYA, with the aim of sustainable and reliable management of the water resource.

“In the reform we are bringing which must be voted by the end of the year, there is one key feature: we have 250 million to start the DEYAs to enter a relatively new period. The huge investments for water cannot be made with public funds, therefore the choice that the local government will have – especially in a period of water scarcity – is either to make them with its own funds from the citizens, which is also unfeasible, or to make them with lending so whatever solutions we have must concern the creditworthiness of banking institutions”, he said.