Opposition to energy projects
(Article by Mira Todorovic Symeonides, Stavroula Antoniou, Stefania Chatzichristofi and Andriani Kantilieraki, published in the ILO OnDemand: Energy & Natural Resources Newsletter on March 27, 2017)
Many new energy projects are supported and incentivised by national and regional
governments, but meet with considerable opposition from the public due to safety, planning
and environmental concerns. From fracking to wind farms, stakeholders must consider how
best to secure buy-in from local communities to ensure that resistance does not delay crucial
projects – or even scupper them altogether.
What types of energy project prove most contentious in your jurisdiction and why?
In the past years, the most contentious energy projects in Greece have centred on:
l the extraction of lignite and hydrocarbons;
l the installation of renewable resource (RES) power plants; and
l the development of the electricity grid (ie, installation of transmission lines and electricity
substations).
On the one hand, the extraction of hydrocarbons has mainly raised questions about the
environmental effects of this activity and the consequences of oil extraction in territories with
frequent seismic activities. That said, public opposition has not delayed the implementation of these
projects. On the other hand, these projects have significant support from local communities, since
they promise sizeable increases in employment.
As regards the extraction of lignite, there is more local opposition in areas with no previous
industrial experience compared with those areas where industrial activity is already intensive.
Further, in relation to RES projects, Greece is in line with the EU Guidelines on State Aid for
Environmental Protection and Energy 2014-2020 and has almost fulfilled its targets in this regard.
Thus, public opposition against such projects has notably decreased. Resistance is mainly seen in
relation to wind parks and is most often due to a lack of sufficient information.
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