1st Joint Peer-Review Visit in Kozani (GR)
1st Joint Peer-Review Visit in Kozani
On 3rd & 4th February 2025, thematically advanced project partners from the Municipality of Frederikshavn (Denmark) and the Technology Park of Extremadura FUNDECYT (Spain) visited Municipality of Kozani (Greece) for 2 days to review their regional resilience strategies/plans for raw materials’ exploration, exploitation, and circularity, meeting with local stakeholders, civil society, and businesses.
Field Visits
The team visited several key companies to gain a better understanding of the region’s (Western Macedonia) mining and recycling activities.
At GEOHELLAS in Grevena, they learned about the extraction and processing of Attapulgite and Saponite, used in various applications like oil filtration and cosmetics. SIBELCO HELLAS S.A. in Kozani, which extracts Hundite, a flame-retardant mineral, was also toured, where the company’s sustainable practices were highlighted. A visit to DIADYMA S.A. focused on the region’s waste management plan, particularly metal and WEEE recycling, along with the plans for a Circular Economy Park. The team also toured the Department of Mineral Resources Engineering at the University of Western Macedonia, where research and education in sustainable practices were showcased.
Discussion & next steps
After the visits, the team discussed the region’s strengths and challenges, particularly around infrastructure and resource management. The team conducted a detailed SWOT analysis, which provided valuable insights into the region’s potential for sustainable growth.
FHN & FUNDECYT will each draft a report with recommendations, to identify specialisation potential in Western Macedonia and to suggest investments in strategic areas, helping the region align with the European Union’s critical raw materials goals and enhance its resilience against potential resource shortages. Further details will be provided in the upcoming summary reports. Stay tuned!