A substantial gold deposit, estimated at 740,000 tons, has been identified at the Skouries mine in northern Greece, with extraction set to begin in 2025, according to a caliber.az article by Naila Huseynova. This discovery represents a major advance for Greece’s mining sector. Though the purity of the deposit is uncertain, estimates suggest a potential worth of up to $44.4 billion, according to Caliber.Az via foreign media.
Located in Halkidiki, Skouries is described as the “jewel in the crown” of Hellas Gold, a subsidiary of Canadian mining company Eldorado Gold. According to the Athens-Macedonia News Agency, the company is “on the final stretch” for Skouries, having already invested over $800 million in the project. Workforce expansion is planned, growing from 1,000 to 1,300 employees over the next six to seven months.
In addition to gold, the mine contains copper, a critical metal for renewable technologies, including digital devices and electric vehicles. Since 2012, the Greek government has collected 550 million euros in tax revenue from the project, with over 2 billion euros projected as it advances.
The Skouries project has faced significant opposition from environmental groups and local communities concerned about deforestation, water contamination, and biodiversity risks. Historically, the region’s gold resources have been exploited since the Bronze Age, with ancient Greeks using Halkidiki’s gold for jewelry, coins, and symbols of power.
Source: caliber.az
