GREECE

Proved recoverable reserves (total coal, million tonnes) 2874
Production (total coal, million tonnes, 1999) 61.9

Coal resources are all in the form of lignite. Apart from a very small amount of private mining, all production is carried out by the mining division of the Public Power Corporation (DEI). There are two lignite centres, Ptolemais-Amynteo (LCPA) in the northern region of West Macedonia, and Megalopolis (LCM) in the southern region of Peloponnese. These two centres control the operations of seven open-cast mines; LCPA mines account for about 75% of DEI’s output of lignite.

In the lignite-mining areas, six dedicated power stations (total generating capacity: 4 850 MW) produce more than two-thirds of Greece’s electricity supply. In 1999, DEI mines produced 61 million tonnes of lignite, which was used to generate about 29 TWh of electricity. Two 330 MW lignite-fired power stations are planned for construction at Florina in the northern region of Western Macedonia.

Greece is the second largest producer of lignite in the European Union and amongst the six largest in the world.

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