Two people lost their lives and five others were injured in a serious road accident in Kozani at the Polymylos toll plaza on the Egnatia Highway when a truck slammed into vehicles waiting at the toll booths The truck then hit a protective barrier before crashing into the toll station booth the victims were passengers in the first two vehicles struck by the truck Fire department units and emergency responders rushed to the scene Two of the injured were transported to the Veria General Hospital while three others with minor injuries were taken to the Kozani Hospital Several vehicles were trapped at the toll station due to the incident Witnesses said thick fog blanketed the area at the time of the crash The truck driver was arrested and will undergo toxicological testing A preliminary investigation is underway to determine the exact causes and circumstances of the crash traffic from Veria to Kozani is being diverted through Kastania via the old national road Enter your information below to receive our weekly newsletters with the latest insights opinion pieces and current events straight to your inbox The footage, retrieved from the highway’s server, has provided critical evidence in the investigation, pointing to the responsibility of a Ukrainian truck driver According to police sources, the footage clearly shows that neither of the two passenger cars involved in the accident was reversing at the time of the collision. The truck, driven by a 38-year-old Ukrainian, was travelling at a speed significantly higher than permitted, though the exact speed is still under review by a specialist appointed by Greek police The force of the impact was so severe that the truck dragged a concrete barrier at the toll booth The video also confirms that the toll booth barrier was raised, and the first car was moving slowly through the lane, as expected. Behind it, a second car carrying a Greek couple from Switzerland was also moving at low speed the couple perished in a fire sparked by the violent collision All injured parties have since been discharged from the hospital and are reported to be in good health The 34-year-old driver of the first car sustained minor injuries and was the last to be released The remains of the Greek couple will be transferred to Naousa for autopsy and further examination the footage from the Egnatia Odos cameras has become a pivotal piece of evidence offering clarity on a tragedy that has shaken the local community and raised questions about road safety on Greece’s highways You must be logged in to post a comment At 11:00 a.m., Mitsotakis will speak at an event titled “Just Developmental Transition & Entrepreneurship: Western Macedonia Enters a New Era,” held at the headquarters of the Western Macedonia Region in Kozani The event will focus on the area’s transition to a sustainable economic future Later, at 1:00 p.m., the Prime Minister will deliver remarks at a presentation unveiling the Public Power Corporation’s (PPC) new investment plan for Western Macedonia This event will take place at the Kardia Power Plant highlighting the government’s commitment to boosting the region’s energy sector and economic growth The visit underscores Greece’s efforts to revitalise Western Macedonia, a region historically tied to energy production as it adapts to modern challenges and opportunities You must be logged in to post a comment Thanasis Liatifis stands in front of the large whiteboard but he enjoys working in the warmth of the laboratory This is the ideal working routine for the electrical and computer engineer and PhD candidate at the University of Western Macedonia he could never have believed that he could find a routine like this in Greece That’s until Metamind Innovations appeared works and is a shareholder in one of the most dynamic spin-off companies in Greece These are ventures that are founded as offshoots of applied research at universities Metamind Innovations sprang from the Ithaca Laboratory at the University of Western Macedonia investing in the results of the European programs it implemented on cybersecurity and artificial intelligence and in the know-how acquired by the students who participated in them windowless room in the university’s old facilities where researchers were forced to cram everything they built into boxes to fit We can do our research more efficiently,” he comments pointing to the endless rows of boards and cables that create a makeshift 5G network on the large table across from his desk By transforming research into products attractive to the market the Metamind Innovations spin-off currently has offices in Kozani and Thessaloniki records significant profits and has reached the point of employing 26 employees 10 of whom are shareholders and the vast majority of whom are graduates of the same university The level is extremely high: One in four holds a doctorate “They are the cream of the crop of the country who came from the region and we managed to keep them so that they also have a business interest We combine research results with market needs with a clientele that goes beyond the borders of Greece,” notes Panagiotis Sarigiannidis associate professor at the University of Western Macedonia and initiator and co-founder of Metamind Innovations He himself had a dream of going abroad after his studies he decided to bring the opportunities found abroad to Greece His need for extroversion inspired him to collaborate on major European programs with other universities and research centers and then before the legal framework for spin-offs was even voted on The services provided by the research team have reached such a level that the company is part of Ukraine’s defensive shield against cyberattacks mainly targeting energy and transportation infrastructure “There are areas that remain without electricity for days due to cyberattacks,” Sarigiannidis says explaining that such moves aim not only to bring down the systems but also to damage the morale of a people who have now endured more than two years of war people suffer: They cannot heat themselves The attacks are trying to send the message to the people that their government cannot protect them.” He says cyberattacks against Ukraine are now a daily occurrence and are carried out by groups in Russia with a political orientation and great economic power Having established cooperation with groups of Ukrainian IT engineers even before the war Metamind is now a member of a close consortium that “Cyberattacks are constantly evolving and becoming more complex We are trying to help Ukraine by detecting the attack and identifying and analyzing the way it affects the system we force the attackers to use a new strategy next time,” Sarigiannidis explains The spin-off has developed a communication channel with the Ukrainian forces and is now informed about the attack through encrypted messages and each time offers the appropriate solutions to deal with it while also calculating its footprint and how it will be isolated before it “infects” other systems describes working on such a project as a huge experience “I’ve received phishing emails from Russia,” he says The young researcher had traveled to Kyiv to meet with his Ukrainian colleagues before the war “Now they tell us they’re having a hard time Sometimes they couldn’t even join the teleconferences.” A Metamind researcher experiments with devices for building networks in the spin-off company’s new spacious laboratory at the University of Western Macedonia focusing on networks and artificial intelligence It is currently in discussions to expand to the United States trying to either create its first branch or another type of company with its products in smart agriculture as a vehicle “We hope that by 2025 there will be the first branch of a Greek spin-off in the US,” says Sarigiannidis adding that the company has developed tools in the areas of smart and digitalized agricultural production such as field monitoring and optimal irrigation systems as the agricultural lands there are vast and the farmers have drones and tractors on which the systems developed by the spin-off can be installed Asked what the motivation was for doing all this and not just being content with being a professor which will provide them with work and experience “I couldn’t stand the lack of challenges!” Despite the measurable achievements of the spin-off for him the greatest achievement of Metamind Innovations is that it kept talented people in northern Greece who until recently would have left directly either to Athens or abroad opportunities for development and an entrepreneurial spirit a postdoctoral researcher and shareholder in the company feels lucky that he can work in a laboratory with such equipment that allows him to check at any time which of his theoretical ideas are put into practice and to be able to open windows to the whole world from a city in Western Macedonia “We participate in major conferences and collaborate with large companies and organizations that shape the technologies of tomorrow We could not do this easily either individually or through another company,” he explains The company has been set up in such a way that financial incentives are given to the working researchers through the acquisition of shares Sarigiannidis’ vision for the future is for the shareholders and employees of the company to gradually develop their own ideas on the technologies they are researching and in turn create new businesses that will be able to employ specialized personnel who graduate from Greek universities PPC obtained an electricity storage permit for a pumped storage hydropower project at an open-cast lignite mine in Kozani in northern Greece Photo: Sirbatch / https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/legalcode.en 0 (PPC) is rushing to stop using coal and switch to renewables and gas As the trailblazer of decarbonization in Greece with an extensive hydropower plant portfolio it aims to back its green electricity investments both with batteries and pumped storage PPC is preparing to build six pumped storage hydropower plants Newmoney reported that the power utility has just received an electricity storage license from the Regulatory Authority for Energy Waste and Water (RAAEW) for one such facility at an open-cast pit in Kozani The South Field Mine site is in Greece’s Western Macedonia coal hub which is undergoing a major transformation The South Field Mine is part of the Western Macedonia coal hub in northern Greece The six projects amount to more than 1.6 GW The country hosts an overall 699 MW in pumped storage capacity at the Sfikia plant in the Central Macedonia province the newest coal plant in Southeastern Europe and beyond the company intends to shut down all such power stations in Greece by 2026 There are some thirty projects with licenses from RAAEW with more than 5 GW in total and a combined storage capacity of 44 GWh The one at the South Field Mine is envisaged with up to 227 MW in generation mode and pumps of an overall 221 MW PPC expects the system to store as much as 3 GWh It plans to obtain bank loans and sell equity to fund the pumped storage hydropower plant The Mavropigis Mine project is located in Ptolemaida in the Municipality of Eordaia The envisaged pumping mode there is 156 MW The sites of three of six current projects are in the Kozani area and another two are nearby PPC intends to install a pumped storage hydroelectric facility of 467 MW and 441 MW at the Sfikia reservoir in Central Macedonia The project is different than the abovementioned existing plant with the same name The company received a license a year ago also for a 460 MW / 432 MW project at Greece’s third-largest lake The fourth investment under development is for a system of 183 MW in generation mode pumps of 181 MW and 1.3 GWh in storage capacity The site is at a mine in the country’s other coal complex in Megalopolis in the Peloponnese peninsula In the meantime, Terna Energy is building its Amfilochia pumped storage hydropower plant. According to the schedule, it will come online in early 2026, the article adds. Masdar is taking over the Greek company. Applications for 43 energy storage projects were submitted last month They include a system of 500 MW that HELLENiQ Renewables plans in Grevena in Western Macedonia and Enercoplan’s investment in 375 MW in Arta in Epirus Be the first one to comment on this article 02 May 2025 - The project is located in Constanța county recognized for its superior yields in green energy production 02 May 2025 - The Sunčana (Sunny) Vipava project envisages installing solar power plants with a combined capacity of 20 MW 30 April 2025 - OMV put into operation its 10 MW green hydrogen plant at the Schwechat refinery 30 April 2025 - It is the second time this year that MVM contracted gas-fueled and hydrogen-ready power plants at sites of former fossil fuel facilities © CENTER FOR PROMOTION OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 2008-2020 website developed by ogitive The report on the implementation of the Convention, due by States Parties every 6 years, includes a section on the elements inscribed on the Representative List. Read more on periodic reports Greece Inscribed in 2016 (11.COM) on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity From December 25 to January 5 in Kozani (north-western Greece) actors and musicians can be seen performing in village streets and visiting people’s homes to celebrate the coming of the new year They represent the priests of Momos (god of laughter and satire) or commanders of Alexander the Great wearing helmets traditional shoes and brandishing sticks dancing under their leader’s command to convince the powers of nature not to endanger the livelihood of villagers Actors surround the dancers performing a well-known satirical play featuring characters like an old man and the devil (this can vary among villages) who the audience is invited to tease creating a fun atmopshere Instruments like the bagpipe play in the background The practice is mainly to wish the community prosperity in the year ahead including healthy offspring and good harvests but now also encourages the sustainable management of natural resources Festivities culminate in the town square with everyone singing and dancing around a fire until morning Transmitted informally from older to younger generations it symbolizes part of the community’s cultural identity and helps to build social integration Password forgotten? The couple, a 73-year-old man from the Kambounia area and his 68-year-old wife from Livadero, both residents of Switzerland, were returning to Kozani for the Easter holidays when the tragedy occurred initial identification was made possible through details provided by the car rental company as the couple was driving a rented vehicle Due to the severe condition of the victims’ remains DNA testing will be conducted to formally confirm their identities This video evidence is expected to provide critical insights into the sequence of events Hellenic Police spokesperson Konstantia Dimoglidou noted that early reports suggesting a driver may have attempted to reverse in the e-pass lane have not been substantiated “The Traffic Police are working to clarify exactly what happened at the scene,” she said adding that retrieving the video footage has been challenging due to technical issues caused by the fire which completely destroyed one of the toll booths Investigators are also collecting witness statements from individuals present at the Polygyros toll booth to piece together the circumstances of the crash The loss of the couple, who had returned to their ancestral home to celebrate the Orthodox Easter authorities are focused on providing answers to the grieving family and ensuring such tragedies are prevented in the future You must be logged in to post a comment Footage recovered from security cameras damaged in the fire sparked by Tuesday’s fatal crash in Kozani northern Greece suggests that two cars involved in a collision with a truck bear no responsibility The accident occurred when a truck crashed onto two cars waiting at a Egnatia Odos highway toll the truck driver claimed he swerved left to avoid a vehicle that blocked his path while approaching the automated toll lane investigating officers who have viewed the footage say it paints a different picture the truck did not slow down and struck two vehicles that had not obstructed its route and the lead vehicle had just started to move when the truck collided with them Felony charges have been filed against the truck driver including dangerous driving resulting in a fatal accident The driver appeared before the Kozani prosecutor on Wednesday requesting and receiving a deadline extension until Friday to deliver his testimony before the investigating magistrate including a 25-year-old toll both employee An investment plan by Advent Technologies in Kozani worth 64 million euros to develop innovative hydrogen fuel cell and electrolyte systems and create 650 job openings has been removed from the Plan for Just Development Transition because it was “problematic,” officials said on Monday Special Service for Just Development Transition (EYDAM) Governor Pelopidas Kalliris said that Advent’s file “was evaluated by EYDAM and the entire plan was found inadequate We requested some additional data several times and based on what is foreseen for state subsidies and by the administration and control plan it proved to be problematic and the specific project could not be included.” He added that the company has lodged an objection to the decision Storm Alexandros brought the first heavy snowfalls in mountainous areas in Western Macedonia Snowfalls were observed in areas with lower altitudes The highest amount of snow was recorded in mountainous Vlasti snow removal machines from the municipalities of Kozani and Eordaia and the Region of Western Macedonia kept the roadways open Images from various mountainous areas of Larissa like the Prophet Elias in Livadi Elassonas Evia and Fthiotida on red alert over bad weather A broad ministerial meeting was underway at the Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Ministry on Friday afternoon to prepare for the “ALEXANDROS” weather system Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister Vassilis Kikilias said that the expert Risk Assessment Committee had met earlier in the day they were “informed that between Friday and late Saturday night there will be heavy rain and local storms in most areas of the country.” the minister noted that in terms of the risk posed by the weather phenomena where from late on Friday until noon on Saturday there is a possibility of flooding and problems due to gale-force northeasterly winds “We caution the local residents to be vigilant and follow the instructions of the authorities,” he added The ministerial meeting was chaired by Kikilias with all the ministries with responsibility for civil protection attending as well as representatives of the fire brigade Greek authorities are urging residents in the affected areas to remain vigilant Emergency services are on high alert to respond to any incidents caused by the storm READ MORE: Parthenon Sculptures: Momentum Builds for Reunification The confrontation saw police deploy tear gas and flashbang grenades to disperse the crowd The unrest broke out when demonstrators, gathered to voice their grievances, attempted to breach a police cordon. In response, MAT units used chemical agents to push back the protesters driving them approximately 200 metres from the site and the demonstrators were allowed to return to a designated area The protest included members of DEI (PPC Public Power Corporation) trade unions, representatives from the Kozani, Ptolemaida, and Florina Workers’ Centers You must be logged in to post a comment the Greek army entered Kozani during the early fighting of the First Balkan War The town was liberated after the Greek victory against the Ottoman Turks at the Battle of Sarantaporo The Battle of Sarantaporo was the first major battle fought between Greek forces under Crown Prince Constantine and Ottoman forces under General Hasan Tahsin Pasha during the First Balkan War The battle began when the Greek army attacked the Ottoman defensive line at the Sarantaporo pass which connected Thessaly with central Macedonia Despite being perceived as impregnable by its defenders the main body of the Greek forces managed to advance deep inside the pass while auxiliary units broke through the Ottoman flanks The Ottomans abandoned their defensive line during the night The Greek victory at Sarantaporo opened the way for the capture of Servia and Kozani READ MORE: Impressive 92kg fish caught in Lake Polyphytou in Kozani. His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America welcomed His Eminence Metropolitan Pavlos of Kozani and His Grace Bishop Christophoros of Amfipoleos to the Archdiocese headquarters  Also pictured is Chancellor of the Archdiocese V Get the Orthodox Observer delivered to your inbox Download VCF • Join our Mailing Lists • Donate The information contained on the website of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America is for informational purposes only Certain individuals and institutions are presented for reference purposes only and may not be under the supervision or jurisdiction of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese The Holy Archdiocese does not exercise any administrative oversight or assignment authority over clergy that are not part of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America SolarPower Europe have released this year’s entries for their 2023 photo competition, showcasing how solar and nature coexist in perfect harmony. This year Lightsource bp has submitted three photos, showcasing our projects in the UK, Greece and Spain alongside a variety of other entries to projects surrounded by wildlife and biodiversity our solar projects thrive being amongst nature Once constructed our projects offer an ideal location to boost the biodiversity and resilience of the local ecosystem providing a place for wildlife to co-exist Biodiversity can be increased in several ways on solar farms and the initiatives are usually tailored to the existing environment so that our sites act as a boost to the surrounding area’s ecosystem As a first step our environmental assessments help us understand the local ecosystem This means that different projects host different planting schemes and play home to a variety of animals We are really excited to have participated in this year’s event and hope to repeat our success of last year, having been named winner of 2022’s SolarPower Europe competition You can vote for your favourite photo at solar and nature in harmony Frosty hare — a frozen moment on our Wilburton solar farm in the UK our mesmerising solar site emerges from a field of vibrant purple flowers — an example of sustainability and beauty Renewable horizons: A stunning glimpse of solar panels and sheep peacefully coexisting at this beautiful site in Vendimia Lightsource bp celebrates World Day for Safety and Health at Work Read Story We're safely delivering large-scale renewable energy projects to create sustainable value for our people Read Story Lightsource bp’s Milagres solar farms have been recognised as top-performing renewable energy projects in Brazil ranking among the top 20 solar developers by e-Power Bay Read Story info@lightsourcebp.com Lightsource bp Renewable Energy Investments Limited Website by Instinctif Partners A coal excavator sits at Greece’s largest mine outside the northern city of Kozani on Thursday Steam rises from a cooling tower at the Agios Dimitrios power plant of Public Power Company (PPC) outside the northern city of Kozani on Friday The phrase “Go Solar” was written years ago by Greenpeace activists Workers at Public Power Company (PPC) operate at the control room of the plant outside the northern city of Kozani on Friday Energy market turmoil caused by the war in Ukraine has triggered an increase in coal-fired electricity production in the European Union and a temporary slowdown in the closure of power plants long-earmarked for retirement A worker at Public Power Company (PPC) presses a button at the control room of the plant outside the northern city of Kozani on Friday Notes hang at the control room of a power plant outside the northern city of Kozani on Friday A worker of Public Power Company (PPC) walks at the power plant outside the northern city of Kozani on Friday stands near a coal excavator at Greece’s largest mine outside the northern city of Kozani on Thursday A worker at Public Power Company (PPC) stands at a coal excavator at Greece’s largest mine outside the northern city of Kozani on Thursday Maintenance engineers check installations at a new solar park outside the northern Greek city of Kozani on Friday is just a half-hour drive from the country’s biggest open-face lignite mine announced a 50% hike in lignite production through 2024 to build up reserves A part of a new solar park sits outside the northern Greek city of Kozani on Friday A maintenance engineer walks at a new solar park outside the northern Greek city of Kozani on Friday Vapor emerges from a cooling tower at the Agios Dimitrios power plant outside the northern city of Kozani on Friday as another walks on a Public Power Company (PPC) coal excavator at Greece’s largest mine outside the northern city of Kozani on Thursday Heavy machines operate at Greece’s largest mine outside the northern city of Kozani on Thursday A worker at Public Power Company (PPC) walks inside a power plant outside the northern city of Kozani on Friday Greece’s largest coal mine sits outside the northern city of Kozani on Thursday Electricity generated by coal in the European Union jumped by 19% in the fourth quarter of 2021 from a year earlier as tension spiked between Russia and Ukraine and ahead of the invasion in late February Russian gas made up more than 40% of the total gas consumption in the EU last year leaving the bloc scrambling for alternatives as prices rose and the supply was cut off to several nations Russia also provided 27% of the EU’s oil imports and 46% of its coal imports The crisis caught Greece at a difficult moment in its own transition the country relied on the domestic mining of lignite a low-quality and high-emission type of coal but recently accelerated plans to close down older power plants promising to make renewables the main source of Greece’s energy by 2030 renewables account for about a third of the country’s energy mix Plans to retire more coal-fired power stations were paused “Not only Greece but all European countries are making minor amendments to their energy transition programs with short-term ‒ and I stress short-term ‒ measures,” Mitsotakis said at the April 6 event The Kozani mine covers an area nearly nine times the size of JFK Airport in New York: A black basin sunk into land surrounded by forests and poppy fields Excavators use clawed wheels taller than the side of a house to load coal into long lanes of belt conveyers “This was the heart of Greece’s energy production,” mine director Antonis Nikou said speaking at the plant and standing near the Orthodox Christian church of Saint Barbara firefighters and others who face danger at work Nikou views the end of Greece’s coal era as inevitable a belief shared for the rest of the EU by its own policymakers and many experts who argue that coal’s brief return will serve only as a backstop while countries ramp up renewables and update their power grids “Attempting to feel secure in terms of not getting cold next winter that’s understandable but this is a very short-term arrangement,” said Elif Gunduzyeli a senior energy policy coordinator at Climate Action Network Europe a Brussels-based coalition of environmental campaigning groups Money needed to modernize the coal industry and find new deposits Western Europe’s postwar integration was largely driven by coal ‒ the European Coal and Steel Community formed in 1951 eventually evolved into the European Union ‒ but EU consumption has long been eclipsed by other nations China uses more coal than the rest of the world combined EU coal consumption plummeted by more than 60% in the last 30 years Regulation in Europe and how it reaches international climate goals are closely watched by other industrial powers along with how it manages to rescue local economies in vanishing coal-mining communities Officially named the West Macedonia Lignite Center the mine at Kozani now employs 1,500 workers The 400-hectare (1,000-acre) solar park nearby hires just 20 Greece’s power workers’ union is pressing the government to give coal a longer lease of life instead of using gas imports that are now more expensive “It is clear that this transition did not take place on fair terms but in a way that supported the interests of natural gas,” union leader George Adamidis told the AP in an interview “We have made a decision to move away from Russian natural gas but the import of liquified natural gas from the United States and elsewhere also involves a process that is polluting so it doesn’t serve our climate goals.” The union wants to extend the life of modern coal-fired plants by about five years and even increase its share of electricity generation from currently less than 15% to about 25% The government says money from the European Union’s Just Transition Fund set up to help coalmining communities and others hurt by the transition will be used to help regions like Kozani with multiple schemes including the restoration of mined land urged authorities to extend the transition and give alternative industries tax breaks and other financial incentives to invest in the region and create jobs “We all know that coal has an expiry date,” he said you think about the next business before you close the existing one That’s not what happened here ‒ we did the opposite and we are not prepared for the green transition.” Follow Gatopoulos at https://twitter.com/dgatopoulos an educational program which aims to promote agri-food entrepreneurship while a group of women are already active in an agrivoltaic project at the park planting aromatic herbs in order to supply Europe’s first agricultural products from a solar park we are actively supporting the local community through continuous initiatives in the village of Polymylos The underground rapid transit lines have been under construction for almost two decades due to various project delays The cross pinnacle on the Tower of Jesus Christ will be ready to receive visitors in 2026 on the centennial of Gaudi’s death Now you can get your wine in Talence by paying directly in Bitcoin That’s because the state has to spend money on updating the railway infrastructure rather than subsidizing the cost of the popular pass Steffen Romstöck said that he would respect the residents’ choice and would take over the helm of the municipality which will come into force from 1 January 2025 Rethinking renewable energy sources for the urban landscape But operating them is still illegal under the country’s legislation can inform and inspire communities and entrepreneurs that still feel trepidation at the prospect of energy transition it has a unique modular design that allows it to be shortened and lengthened like a train that’s the promise made by the mayor of Paris the district has long been known as the hangout spot for the artsy crowds Hostal de Pinós is located in the geographical centre of the autonomous region the ranking considers several distinct but essential factors these quiet areas will now be available on all main routes in the country The academic institution shows a deeper understanding of the well-being of its students Lazaros Maloutas was born in 1956 in Kozani Maloutas was elected as a Mayor of Municipality of Kozani in 2019 the citizens elected him in the 2010 elections The population of Kozani is over 70,000 people the trust shown to me by my fellow citizens in electing me for the second time as a Mayor of Kozani was a great honor I have had the opportunity to govern for about 15 months the Kapodistrian Municipality of Kozani between 2009 and 2010 and from January 2011 to be the first mayor of the new Kallikratician Municipality of Kozani The Municipality of Kozani is characterized by its worthy of mention energy features as within its administrative district are currently installed 7 lignite power plants it is surrounded by beautiful natural landscapes while also boasting three artificial lakes at the southern part as well as natural areas of particular geological interest The municipality of Kozani is a historical place within its exceptional archeological museum Kozani’s historic and remarkable Municipal Library is of outmost importance as it highlights the contribution of our community to the Modern Greek Enlightenment period which houses historical exhibits of modern times Our area has a rich primary sector which is based on the cultivation of potatoes but also on the ever-increasing production of aromatic-therapeutic cultivations such as yolk Kozani is the seat of the University of Western Macedonia and its academic community and it hosts most of the educational and research activities of the institution The municipality’s geopolitical position is pivotal as it constitutes a “natural” hub in the Southwestern Balkans as the Egnatia Highway crosses an area of 50 km with its two vertical motorway axes leading to Skopje and Albania It is important to mention some pioneering projects of the local government such as the Kozani’s Zone of Active Urban Design as well as the Waste Management Company at the regional level which is a good practice case study for other regions in Greece of special importance is the geomorphology of our area with tectonic and geological characteristics which are unique in Europe the settlements of our Municipality are installed in an altitude range between 300 and 1.000 meters over the sea level I have to agree that the beginning is always the hardest we undertook some important initiatives with the aim to contribute to a smoother transition towards a clean energy regime Some of our ideas include the Strategic Plan for the Agricultural Policy the Strategic Plan for the Branding & Marketing of Kozani the Covenant of Mayors for the Sustainable Development an ambitious initiative of European Commission that gives the lead to Europe’s pioneering cities to mitigate climate change a number of flagship projects have also begun development such as the construction of the new Municipal Library the planning of the utilization of the energy character of the Municipality new projects that would transform the area as a tourist attraction the planning of the Technopolis- a modern museum for technology- and some municipal buildings with a bioclimatic design using RES we run some projects for the development of Municipal assets and the boosting of the local economy the Government's announcements about the closure of all coal-fired plants by 2028 - the deadline of those which are located our region is even sooner 2023- set a stringent deadline which is expected to affect the wider region of Western Macedonia My colleagues and I have already worked systematically to submit our proposal for the development of the region to the Governmental bodies which are in charge of drafting the Master Plan for the energy transition Our belief is that our proposal will give a whole new perspective on the development of our Municipality Our plan is based on the promotion and utilization of all the comparative advantages of the region the enhancing of its energy character and its establishment as a National Pole of Innovation and Sustainable Development Our aim is to take measures in order to make the area attractive for direct investments we are going to launch a Business Park which could serve as an infrastructure for innovative projects in the digital sector and energy and we will develop a Circular Economy Park utilizing our experience in waste management I also have to mention the promotion of a series of actions concerning the urban environment in order to improve the living spaces so that both old and new residents can live and work safely Our aim is to bring new people and companies to Kozani The truth is that the municipalities in Western Macedonia were not prepared for the transition to a clean energy regime there is a number of well-defined projects which we have already included in our operational planning for the post-lignite period such as supplying thermal heating with energy from an alternative power supply which takes a long time for its development I would like to inform you that for the sustainability and continuation of the operation of district heating it is crucial to be clarified by the Ministry the exact timeline for the substitution of power supply as well as PPC’s intentions concerning its cooperation with local authorities of the region about developing power and thermal units it has to be determined the financial mechanism through which our operational programme will be financed It is of utmost importance that these actions to be taken immediately in order to accelerate and implement our projects due to the bureaucratic hurdles facing the public administration in general it is obvious that the timetable for full dismantling of power plants by 2023 we are in an open channel of communication with the government we have clear views and realistic proposals and we demand immediate and clear answers we are trying to have a fruitful dialogue with the governmental authorities as we have a robust vision and realistic planning in order to complete our goal In the city of Kozani lives a great portion of the young people of the region of Western Macedonia Our aim is to make the Municipality of Kozani an area that will be characterized by a youth-friendly environment and policies in education research and innovation and cutting-edge technologies our strategy focuses on interventions that will transform the image and function of the municipality in an innovative way We have already drafted an operational plan for the digital transition of the Municipality of Kozani and we are launching interesting projects in order to welcome young scientists and investments which will make the area a pole of sustainable development and innovation on a national scale the foundation of modern technical vocational schools and new university departments which will provide the necessary support to young people The Greek Government has already announced additional resources mainly from the utilization of the current and the next programme of European Structural Funds combined with the funds of the European Just Transition Mechanism along with InvestEU funds and EIB’s public sector facility create an allocation of approximately 4 billion euros about Greece I would also like to point out that we will claim private funding and direct investments which can contribute to the implementation of our ambitious programme I believe in the future of a united Europe and in the perspective of common actions common initiatives and a common path that we must develop and expand in the future all those actions and infrastructures that ensure equal information equal access opportunities and equal development opportunities for all citizens of Europe finds me completely agreed and a strong supporter of their implementation We find such a unified platform very interesting for European municipalities We have already entered a transitional period in which we are obliged to pave the way and take the appropriate decisions and initiatives we do need both information and technical help and new tools in order to maximize our experience and be ready to shape the future we are envisioning our strategic plan includes projects and actions aimed at highlighting the Municipality of Kozani as a strong economic pole of development innovation and environmental sustainability capable to support the entire region on its transition to a clean energy regime Our main goal is to promote projects that will contribute to the transformation of Kozani into a “Smart City” with modern infrastructure efficient and friendly services to all its inhabitants - with participatory processes and innovative policies a sustainable and functional urban environment with a sophisticated traffic management that will promote movement a suitable environment for entrepreneurship and for the creation of new sustainable jobs we do undertake initiatives and support collaborations in order for Kozani to become a Center for Management and Entrepreneurship sustainable agricultural development with innovative cultivations our aim is to make Kozani a Shopping and Transportation hub not only for the region but also for the broaden region of Western Balkans We already have many projects to present from those we have had implemented in the energy sector we are planning additional ones whose purpose is to strengthen the energy character of the Municipality and make Kozani a center for clean energy production green energy applications and energy efficiency concerns the cooperation between Municipality and the academic community and research institutions of the region as well as with the private sector as the seat of the University of Western Macedonia with these specific initiatives aims to become a Center for Education A main strategic objective is to further develop the digital networks and the resulting services in that way that our Municipality shape the transition process towards to a cutting-edge technology economic landscape Kozani has a rich historical heritage and folklore tradition will all have a leading role in making Kozani an international destination and a cultural capital It is our main task to resurrect the local economy to make our municipality a better place to live in with a sustainable environment and developed infrastructures We are here to transform our Municipality in a safe urban environment for all its citizens and for their families To find out more about Kozani, visit the profile of the municipality. The 10th European Conference on Sustainable Cities and Towns (ESCT) sets the stage for stronger cooperation between the EU national and local level to fast track Europe's transition to climate neutrality Urban dwellers across the EU are having a say in making their surroundings friendlier to people and the environment Forests in the EU can help green the European construction industry and bolster a continent-wide push for architectural improvements Apply by 10 November and do your part for the transformation of European public spaces An interview with the Mayor of a Polish city that seeks to reinvent itself An interview with the newly elected ICLEI President and Mayor of Malmö A conversation with the Mayor of Lisbon about the spirit and dimensions of innovation present in the Portuguese capital Greece’s Civil Protection placed the regional unit of Kozani in an effort to contain the spread of the coronavirus Civil Protection Deputy Minister Nikos Hardalias said the region is in the “increased threat” level The measures include the mandatory use of a mask in all indoor and outdoor areas the suspension of all gatherings in public and private spaces as well as a travel ban outside the region Schools will continue to remain open with pupils and teachers wearing masks while universities will switch to online classes Greece recorded 453 new cases of COVID-19 in the latest 24-hour reporting period the largest daily spike since the first case was registered in the country in late February This raises the total number of cases to 23,947 3,434 are considered to be related to travel from abroad and 9,698 are related to an already known case 93.9% have an underlying condition or are aged 70 years and above A total of 252 patients have been discharged from ICUs since the start of the pandemic in Greece The country’s pandemic death toll stands at 482 The median age of all was 79 years and 96.3% of the deceased had an underlying condition and/or age of 70 years or more Greece makes face masks mandatory after surge in cases Following the suspension of flights by Astra Airlines (Thessaloniki) last month, SKY Express (Greece) (GQ, Irakleion) has added two further domestic routes to its portfolio seizing the opportunity left behind by its former competitor's absence From December 1, Sky Express will link Athens to Kastoria and Kozani The route to Kastoria will be flown direct on Thursdays whereas on Tuesdays and Saturdays it will operate via Kozani with direct flights from Athens on Tuesdays and Saturdays Sky Express increases its destination list to 34 points President and Chief Executive Officer of Sky Express Theodoros Krokidas said: “Underlining our strong commitment to support the Greek economy Sky Express continues to strengthen its domestic network with these two destinations offering a convenient schedule and even more choices to both leisure and business passengers alike These two new destinations will allow easier access to local and foreign visitors to just about every corner of the country significantly stimulating local economies by prolonging the all-year tourist season.” Astra Airlines was granted temporary relief from creditors by a Greek court in late November following the regional carrier's suspension of flights earlier in the month amid cash flow problems Get started with a ch-aviation subscription unrestricted access to all of ch-aviation's news and data for 14 days Upgrade to our Data and News Subscriptions Aviation Intelligence for your everyday use We offer a comprehensive aviation industry database utilised by various entities such as operators  This image shows how the bed would have looked before the burial It is made largely of bronze but had some wooden parts that have since decayed away Archaeologists have unearthed the ancient burial of a woman lying on a bronze bed near the city of Kozani in northern Greece Depictions of mermaids decorate the posts of the bed The bed also displays an image of a bird holding a snake in its mouth The woman's head was covered with gold laurel leaves that likely were part of a wreath director of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Kozani The wooden portions of the bed have decomposed.  four clay pots and a glass vessel were buried alongside the remains No other people were buried with her.  Related: Gold and precious gems unearthed in a 5th-century grave in Bohemia Archaeologists are now analyzing the skeleton to determine the woman's health age when she died and possible cause of death The artifacts found with her suggest that she likely came from a wealthy background "We do not know much about the history of this area [during the first century B.C.]," Chondrogianni-Metoki told Live Science Kozani was near an important city called Mavropigi (the site is now a village) that housed a sanctuary dedicated to Apollo —Ancient Greeks may have built 'disability ramps' on some temples —Babylonians used Pythagorean theorem 1,000 years before it was 'invented' in ancient Greece —Ancient ale: Oldest beer in Greece dates to Bronze Age Get the world’s most fascinating discoveries delivered straight to your inbox It's unclear when exactly in the first century B.C this woman lived or if she would have witnessed or heard of any of those historic events The woman’s remains are currently housed at the Archaeological Museum of Aiani in Greece Live Science contacted scholars not affiliated with the research for further insights on the discovery but none were available to offer comment at the time of publication another bed burial was found in a nearby cemetery that had an elderly man buried on the remains of a bed made of iron and wood That burial dated to the fourth century B.C EDT June 7 to include information about the other bed burial discovered in 2021 Owen JarusSocial Links NavigationLive Science ContributorOwen Jarus is a regular contributor to Live Science who writes about archaeology and humans' past He has also written for The Independent (UK) The Canadian Press (CP) and The Associated Press (AP) Owen has a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Toronto and a journalism degree from Ryerson University.  Ancient Egyptians drew the Milky Way on coffins and tombs Archaeologists discover hundreds of metal objects up to 3,400 years old on mysterious volcanic hilltop in Hungary Photo: Juwi's Rustenberg solar park in South Africa (juwi.com) 0 The Kozani solar park secured 47% of the total volume in the auction that saw projects with a combined capacity of 635 MW competing for a total of 437 MW in capacities Juwi competed with four other solar and one wind project The 204 MW solar park will be the largest solar PV project in South-East Europe (SEE) “Thanks to a very well prepared and precisely executed strategy we were not only able to bring our entire project volume through the auction process – we have managed to secure the highest tariff of all other solar projects,” said Takis Sarris Juwi secured a remuneration of 5.73 cents per kWh It also said it has become the leading company for utility-scale renewable power plants in Greece The Kozani project is located in the north of Greece about 15 kilometers away from the city of Kozani Juwi will begin with the construction of the solar park on an area of more than 400 hectares The solar park is scheduled to be connected to the grid by April 2021 It is expected to produce more than 300 million kWh of electricity annually Juwi acquired the project rights in November 2017 and developed the project to market maturity The company has been active in Greece for more than ten years and has connected more than 50 plants with a combined capacity of over 100 MW to the grid The Hellenic Association of Photovoltaic Companies’ (Helapco) data shows that Greece added only 41 MW of new PV capacity in 2018, pv magazine reported The figure comprises all the projects tendered in 2016 via a pilot renewable energy tender and 7.2 MW of net metering installations one of the largest wind turbine manufacturers in the world Greek refiner ELPE concluded the construction of the largest PV plant in Greece Photo: Hellenic Petroeleum Group of Companies / YouTube 0 Hellenic Petroleum’s corporate transformation continues as the group aims to become a player with a diversified energy portfolio It is all part of the company’s Vision 2025 plan which in 2021 included EUR 400 million of investments of which 60% was in green energy and 10% in environmental and safety upgrades The group, also known by its acronym ELPE or HELPE, has concluded the construction of Greece’s largest PV plant – a 204 MW project in Kozani in the country’s north – during Q3 2021 and it is expected to begin operation at the end of March after it is connected to the transmission grid the company acquired a wind portfolio of 38 MW from EREN as well as PV plants of 16 MW from Trina in Boeotia (Viotia) It expects to meet its goal for 300 MW of renewable installed capacity by the beginning of 2022 ELPE aims to expand its presence in renewables The group’s management revealed recently that a portfolio of 303 MW in photovoltaics would be acquired in Meliti alongside an investment for another 20 MW in the same area but they are expected to reach that stage within 2022 Aside from renewables, ELPE also participates in the ambitious White Dragon project along with many other Greek and European players under DEPA Trading also called DEPA Commercial or DEPA Commerce Its goal is to jumpstart the green hydrogen market in Greece through the creation of producing plants in Western Macedonia during this decade The plan calls for EUR 8 billion in investments ELPE CEO Andreas Siamisiis announced recently that within the first half of 2022 the final investment decision would be made for the construction of a natural gas–fired power plant in Greece It should be noted that many private groups are building or planning similar plants in order to replace older lignite plants to be decommissioned in the following years You do not have access to www.researchgate.net The site owner may have set restrictions that prevent you from accessing the site a fisherman from Kozani took a photo of what is perhaps his most impressive catch ever at Lake Polyphytou Michalis Papadimitriou from Vathilakko village in Kozani caught the impressive 92 kg fish, reported Kozani Media READ MORE: 200kg wild boar killed in Central Greece: See the video. I believe I fully reflect the historical reality by saying that Kozani one of the great historical centres of the Enlightenment has now acquired the intellectual hearthstone it deserves with its architectural integrity and state-of-the-art equipment is a true model library that keeps abreast of time and at the same time does credit to the centuries-old legacy and tradition that it has inherited The Municipal Library of Kozani’s collection became so vast that it ran out of room Instead of being made available to the public part of this unique collection was stored away in warehouses To ensure the public can access the entire collection this EU-funded project built and furnished a new 4 423 square metre state-of-the-art library The new library consists of two buildings linked via a light transparent structure that also houses the communal areas the two-story building includes two basements There is also a secure location for the library’s most valued pieces An exhibition area is being developed which will host both permanent and temporary displays The new library has already proved to be a hit more than 5 000 took advantage of the reading room and nearly 3 000 students visited as part of a school trip Kozani now has the flagship library needed to make good on its reputation as a ‘City of Books’ The building houses the library’s rare and valued collection and 257 Byzantine/post-Byzantine and foreign language manuscripts along with publications by modern Greek Enlightenment and Western Macedonian scholars The collection includes such gems as Aristotle's Metaphysics and History of Animals (1497 print) and the first Greek newspaper edited by the brothers Markides Pouliou (Ephemeris 1790-1797) the building aims to position Kozani as a cultural tourist destination – particularly for those interested in the history and culture of Western Macedonia and the Balkans Total investment for the project “Creation of Public Library’s Building and Library’s Museum” is EUR 5 081 067 (2007-2013) and EUR 3 970 983 (2014-2020) with the EU’s European Regional Development Fund contributing EUR 5 081 067(2007-2013) and EUR 3 176 787 (2014-2020) through the “Macedonia - Thrace” and “Western Macedonia" Regional Operational Programmes for the 2007-2013 and 2014-2020 programming periods respectively The investment falls under the priority “Environment and resource efficiency” Περιφέρεια Δυτικής Μακεδονίας / Ειδική Υπηρεσία Διαχείρισης Επ Προγράμματος "Δυτικής Μακεδονίας 2014-2020" Greece recently granted Intiva one of the earliest licences in the European Union to undertake this business The first phase of development is to complete the processing plant 48 greenhouses and all supporting facilities capable of supplying 4 harvests each year Upon completion this will facilitate the production of 12,400 kg of high THC oil per year We expect the company to be cashflow net positive from the end of the second quarter of the second year and from then onwards to cover the costs of future development from internal cash flows and future receipts from the government grant scheme The expansion beyond the first 48 greenhouses will allow us to more than double our production and sales Our conservative approach means upside to our numbers The 2 principal drivers for revenue have been assumed to be conservative: (i) Yields per harvest should be higher than 600kg (ii) Revenue per kg should be higher than €36k Once Intiva has completed its equity funding (already underway) it will qualify for an EU government grant in the form of the EU ESPA (ΕΣΠΑ) grant under Regulation EU 1303/2013 as amended Provided all necessary provisions are successfully completed Intiva will qualify for a grant equal to 70% of the capital expenditure assuming that the EU grant is awarded is equity of €12 million and the government grant of €8.7 million in the first year As the Company builds additional greenhouses and therefore incurs further capital expenditure The Company has retained an expert consultant who is conducting this process in accordance with standard market practice Intiva’s leadership team has extensive experience in the cannabis industry and is inclusive of board-certified medical professionals We will also rely on a roster of local professionals including pharmacists and a team of specialists from the leading Greek agricultural consultancy IA-Agro who specialise in cannabis cultivation and extraction but who draw on experience from a diverse set of industries including solar energy EU-Startups.com is the leading online magazine about startups in Europe. Learn more about us and our advertising options Learn how to describe the purpose of the image (opens in a new tab) Leave empty if the image is purely decorative Bike-1 is a four-wheeled bicycle that runs on a lithium battery and charges like electric vehicles it does not lag in entertainment on the road with speakers for music and open communication the second Bike-1 model is more reinforced and can carry up to 180 kg of cargo Both have pedals but are powered by an electric motor The e-bike price varies between 7,000 and 12,000 euros, but the prices will drop significantly when the demand and production increase it can provide a driving range of up to 100 km READ MORE: e.Go: From wanting to make electric vehicles in Greece to bankruptcy… again Archbishop Elpidophoros of America welcomed Metropolitan Pavlos of Kozani and Bishop Christophoros of Amfipoleos to the Archdiocese headquarters Also pictured is Chancellor of the Archdiocese Nektarios Papazafiropoulos the Patriarchate of Jerusalem solemnly celebrated the Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women... Archbishop Elpidophoros of America celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Monastery of the Theotokos.. it was announced that two Roman Catholic institutions in Bavaria have decided to jointly.. A car once used by Pope Francis during his 2014 visit to Bethlehem is being transformed into a mobile.. the Monastery of Saint Vlash in Albania hosted a festal Divine Liturgy on the.. Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece presided over the festal Great Vespers at the historic.. (function() { window.mc4wp = window.mc4wp || { listeners: [] cb) { window.mc4wp.listeners.push( { event : evt callback: cb } ); } } }})(); © 2023 OrthodoxTimes.com - All rights reserved Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website These cookies do not store any personal information Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website At an event last Thursday at the Museum of the Macedonian Struggle the first grant was announced for $5,000 in honour of the Greek Australian benefactor Zisis Dardalis (1938-2023) The grant was awarded to the Centre for Research of Macedonian History and Documentation (KEMIT) of the Museum of the Macedonian Struggle Foundation and Modern History of Macedonia to support its research work The grant was awarded following a decision by the members of the Australian Institute of Macedonian Studies.The collaboration between the Museum of the Macedonian Struggle Foundation in Thessaloniki and the Australian Institute of Macedonian Studies in Melbourne has gained momentum with the common goal of studying upon the recommendation of their president as their honorary president and to establish a special honorary award under the title Zisis Dardalis Grant (Jack Dardalis Grant) “Zisis Dardalis emigrated to Australia alone and became a unique figure who belongs to all of us,” said Professor Tamis Dardalis lost his parents at the age of five during the raids by Germans and Bulgarians in Macedonia He emigrated to Australia in 1960 after passing through the National Orphanage of Florina and attended the “Aristotle” Technical School of Kalamaria where he learned the trade of machinist carpenter he acquired his own factory manufacturing dim sims and spring rolls establishing Marathon Foods Industry in Melbourne “He supported young children with diseases and groups promoting Greek culture and identity he supported La Trobe University and the National Centre for Hellenic Studies and Research (EKEME) which operated at the university until 2008 He gave his soul to the university,” added Tamis it is estimated that only 7 per cent of the 270,000 pioneering migrants will be alive noted Professor Tamis in a lecture on ‘Changing Relationships of National Centres and the Greek Diaspora’ the life expectancy in Australia was 81.3 years for men and 85.4 years for women Zisis Dardalis also funded the establishment of a Modern Greek Studies chair at La Trobe University The Dardalis Archives of the Greek Diaspora include rich material related to Greeks in Australia Created in 1997 at the former National Centre for Hellenic Studies and Research at La Trobe University the archives were stored when the Centre closed La Trobe University Library undertook to evaluate and catalog the archives Highlighting that the Australian Institute of Macedonian Studies (AIMS) was founded in 1986 by a group of academics and professionals aiming to promote the cultural and historical identity of Macedonian Hellenism and conduct research in various fields and disciplines The collaboration of the Museum of the Macedonian Struggle Foundation with the Australian Institute of Macedonian Studies is long-standing and based on relationships of trust and mutual appreciation of the research and multifaceted work of each institution “The Australian Institute of Macedonian Studies and its people are always supporters of our institution’s educational and research work and our efforts to highlight the modern history and cultural heritage of Macedonia,” stressed Athina Pavlidou director of the Museum of the Macedonian Struggle Members of Zisis Dardalis’ family from Siatista attended the event honouring his contribution and role in the social and academic advancement of Hellenism in Australia The upcoming general election in Greece is set to delay the first auction for energy storage in Greece 0 According to previous statements by the Ministry for Environment and Energy, an auction for 900 MW to 1,000 MW of battery energy storage will take place this year for the first time Given the fact that Greek elections are expected to last for a couple of months the auction will probably take place in the second half of 2023 investors are moving forward with their applications to the Regulatory Authority for Energy to be ready for the auction submitted an application for a 206.2 MW project in Kozani (PPC) plans a 148 MW storage system in its Kardia lignite mine Other companies include North Greece Ceramics with a 96 MW project in Kilkis Chalki Energy with 100 MW in Attica and Solar Energy with 50 MW Viniato Energy obtained two licenses for a total of 72.2 MW in Kozani HELLENiQ Energy (formerly Hellenic Petroleum) amended three of its licenses for photovoltaic plants in Kozani to include storage: a 12.8 MW project would have batteries with a capacity of 31.3 MWh a future 30.1 MW plant would be paired with 68.1 MWh and a 25.4 MW endeavor was expanded with 51.1 MWh in storage Direen amended a license for a 60 MW PV plant in Florina to add 108 MW in battery operating power are accompanying renewable energy projects They won’t have the ability to absorb energy from the grid The battery is used only to store the plant’s own power and deliver it to the transmission or distribution network at a later time Such projects have priority in approvals for grid connection The remaining projects are for standalone battery systems They will compete for obtaining support tariffs at the upcoming auction A comprehensive renewables bill that the Ministry for Environment and Energy submitted to parliament includes an interesting decree It envisages a limit to be set for the number of new natural gas plants that can be licensed in Greece since investing interest has surpassed the country’s expected future needs the bill provides investors the ability to change their project from a natural gas plant to an energy storage facility Companies can send amendment applications to the regulator until the end of June storage capacity can’t exceed half of the original natural gas plant’s nominal capacity the natural gold of the Greek land is in bloom at the moment colouring impressive fields In Western Macedonia amid the famed crocus villages of Kozani striking swathes of purple cover the fields It is blooming season for the gold of the Greek land and the air is scented with the flower’s deep aroma The Saffron crocus is the flower that produces one of the most expensive spices in the world The Greek saffron from Kozani’s crocus is PDO (Protected Designation Origin) and is regarded as some of the best available.A fresco in the palace of Knossos (1.600 B.C.) of a young child picking crocus flowers shows that saffron was one of the most popular and valuable spices of antiquity its colour and its medicinal and aphrodisiac properties The epicentre of crocus farming is the aptly named village of Krokos 5 km southwest of Kozani with about 3.000 residents most of them crocus farmers and members of the “Cooperative De Safran / Crocos – 50010 Kozani” Other crocus villages in the area are: Ano Komi The fragrant purple crocus carpet that covers hundreds of thousands square metres in the southern area of Kozani from the Tsarsampas valley to the Polyfytos lake is increasingly becoming a tourist attraction especially popular with both professional and amateur photographers The crocus farmers work tirelessly in Autumn hand picking the stigmas of this beautiful flower in order to dry them The deep crimson threads are then processed and traded by the Cooperative Around 50.000 stigmas are needed for 100 gr of red saffron and that helps to explain why it is so expensive and sought-after globally The crocus bulbs are planted in the middle of the summer and the blooming period starts in October until mid-November when the picking of stigmas has to be completed as the cooler weather affects the quality of the saffron The farmers spend hours daily bent in the endless purple fields carefully picking the crocus blossoms before they wither The naked fields will be covered in purple again at dawn the next day as more bulbs bloom The image of farmers bent-double picking crocuses in the field is a favourite subject for photographers who visit the crocus villages of Kozani every year during this period Argiris Karamouzas from Kozani is a health visitor by profession but also a photography aficionado who captures the purple fields and the tired faces of the local farmers you see first-hand the hardships and stress that people in the crocus business face rushing to pick the flowers before the weather turns the risk of the flowers being destroyed by a sudden storm as each crocus is less than 10 cm tall and needs to be handpicked The fresh stigmas are placed in thin layers on silk sieves and they are then transported to well-ventilated spaces All these tasks are done exclusively by hand and take between 20 and 60 days and delivered to the Cooperative; this process needs to be completed by the end of March Once the saffron is delivered to the Cooperative something that would degrade the quality of the product The moisture level should be between 8 and 11.5% at most additional checks are performed to ensure that there is no contamination in the saffron or that the pollen levels aren’t too high Once the saffron successfully passes all checks it can also be sold in smaller quantities in the form of powder – between 0,25 to 1 gram in small quantities due to its strong flavour It is often used to cook rice to accompany fish or chicken it is also used in the production of dyes or in dying fabrics saffron is also used in the production of cosmetics or pharmaceuticals • It relieves stomach-ache• It soothes kidney pains• It stimulates the appetite and facilitates digestion nervous colic and whooping cough• It cures pimples and helps with acne• It has antidepressant anti-aging and cancer combating properties• It improves memory and brain functions• It reduces cholesterol and is antithrombotic• It reduces blood pressure• may improve cognition in adults with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.• It helps with asthma attacks and nausea and even relieves during teething.• It has aphrodisiac properties Crocus has been grown in the area of Kozani since the 17th century when the Kozanite merchants Today around 500 acres in the south Kozani villages are used for the cultivation of crocus Most of the harvest is sold abroad; to Europe while some of it is also exported to China either by remaining on the main road or by taking one of the side streets 130 km from Thessaloniki and 466 km from Athens You can sample and buy various saffron products either direct from the Cooperative (tel.0030 24610 63283) in Krokos or through their e-shop where you will also find recipes for unique dishes An island-like Greek village enjoying magnificent sunsets Life with 60 cows at a village with less than 10 residents – Kozani area farmer explains Drama: Diverse, Delightful, Dynamic, Divine and Dramatic  A group of local women will be able to sell the food they grow at the Vamvakies photovoltaic plant near Kozani in Western Macedonia thanks to a “Social Green Project” which has received recognition at the 2020 Bravo Sustainability Awards Farmers in the northern prefectures of Kozani have staged protests and drove tractors in convoys towards towns to highlight problems in their sector that they say “threaten the sustainability of agricultural and livestock production.” Issues related to the implementation of the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) are at the center of the farmers’ concerns farmers held a meeting with the local mayor and regional government blocking access to the latter’s office for the duration of the meeting Farmers have said they intend to block the Egnatia motorway at the Siatista junction next week whose organic farm was awarded as the best in the EU in in 2023 said that the new CAP measures have reduced income from plant and animal products “by an average of 52%.” The protests are the latest in a series of farmer mobilizations across the country farmers in Central Greece’s Larissa and Karditsa protested government inaction over the reimbursement for crops livestock and farming equipment lost in September’s Storm Daniel Farmers across the European Union have taken to the streets over a plethora of issues in recent weeks France has witnessed two weeks of protests in rural regions while other European countries including Germany and Poland have also seen demonstrations by farmers angry over eroding living standards French farmers blocked one of the main motorways linking Paris with the northern city of Lille and Belgium on Friday causing lengthy traffic jams as part of nationwide protests over low food prices and excessive bureaucracy Unions have called for the roadblocks in and around Paris to increase pressure on Prime Minister Gabriel Attal’s government which the farmers accuse of not doing enough to help them the finance and farm ministers discussed with food industry officials on Friday fair prices for produce – a ‘number one priority’ for farmers who say they are suffering from the government’s drive to lower consumer prices A 105 MW photovoltaic park in the Kozani region has become fully operational with the support of ProCredit Bank 0 ProCredit Bank handled and perfectly coordinated the communication among all 90 legal entities Our trained professionals were also able to keep the processes fast, by holding regular and well-oriented meetings with kIEFER the lead company that took on the engineering ProCredit Bank has created a stable financial environment for the investors by providing them with loans with fixed interest rates we are experienced and invested in such projects due to the guiding principles of the International Group we are part of and due to our sensitivity to environmental impact ProCredit Bank was thrilled to undertake this project as part of the financing for the project was related to the reforestation of the broad region of Kozani our teams of experts in ProCredit Bank are fully capable of navigating through different situations whether they pertain to business client advisers and sustainability departments or credit risk management Our trained staff always stays on top of challenges that may arise and thus it is prepared to provide and implement the most efficient solution The PV park in the Kozani region makes a true impact on the local community as it created construction jobs in the last two years and now it has opened positions for maintenance This project is not only perfectly in line with ProCredit Bank’s aim to continue supporting SMEs but is also added to its long record of successful large projects Our teams will continue to undertake environmental and large-scale works overcoming the obstacles and managing them most efficiently