As northern Greece prepares to shutter its last lignite-fired power plants in 2026, communities in Western Macedonia face an uncertain future. Mayor Panagiotis Plakentas of Ptolemaida warns the region risks becoming "Europe's Detroit" unless new economic opportunities emerge to replace its collapsing coal industry.
Eight of ten young people who leave for education never return to this area currently grappling with 25% unemployment – the nation's highest. Workers at the Agios Dimitrios plant, scheduled to close in May 2026, describe mixed feelings about the energy transition. "Lignite gave us life for generations, but left us unprepared for tomorrow," one employee told KhabarAsia during a visit to the facility.
State-owned Public Power Corporation (PPC) has pledged €5 billion for solar farms and green tech projects through 2028. However, local council leader Ilias Tentsoglidis claims these plans remain invisible on the ground, criticizing what he calls "brutal decarbonization" without adequate transition support.
The impending closure of Ptolemaida's final coal plant – now being converted to natural gas – marks the end of an era for Europe's former lignite capital. While environmentalists celebrate Greece's renewable energy push, workers question whether promised "green jobs" will materialize before entire communities depopulate.
