At 5.6 billion euros its new investment plan is calculated PPC for the Western Macedoniaan amount that can also be doubled, as the CEO of the company, Mr. George Stassis, pointed out today (3.4.2025) at a special event in the AES.
As Mr Stassis pointed out, “Western Macedonia demonstrates PPC’s specific burden, its importance to the national economy and the progress of the place. The real size of this company, this group that has now opened sails in Southeast Europe, looks better than anywhere else, here, in the production areas of the ASs, next to excavators, mines and impressive cooling towers. ”
The purpose of the investment plan is to make productively exploit the infrastructure already existing, according to him. That is why Ptolemais 5, which today operates in less than half a capacity, will be converted into a gas unit at the end of 2026.
Concerning this, Mr Stassis noted that: “New Ptolemais 5 will stop burning lignite at the end of 2026. By the end of 2027 it will be converted into a 350 MW open -air gas unit. During the conversion of the unit to gas, 300 jobs will be created in the area. It is then possible to upgrade to a combined cycle unit of 500 MW, with the possibility of further increasing its productive capacity, so that the total installed power can reach 1,000 MW. ”
According to PPC chief executive, conventional units will be necessary for several more years and the gas was the best solution to fill in RES.
Speaking about PPC’s investment plan for Western Macedonia, Mr Stassis said that “we want to invest in green production and energy storage that, in addition to the country, will also supply the largest data center in Greece. And not just in Greece, the largest in Europe to date, which we will build here in Western Macedonia. These investments will fund dozens of different projects, from RES and energy storage to new power plants, soil restorations, energy networks and fiber, and especially the data center. “
This is a project of 2.3 billion euros in demand of 300 megawatts, with 4,000 workers in construction. It is noted that PPC’s subsidiary in optical fibers will create new connections with Thessaloniki and Igoumenitsa for its international interconnection, while in the second phase, there are conditions to grow the data center up to 1,000 MW with an additional € 5.4 billion investment. Thus, total investments can reach 12 billion euros.
At the same time, modern capacitors are planned to install in the System of the System Power Station, as the reactive power they offer uses existing generators to provide voltage and frequency regulation. The necessary licenses have been secured and the contractor finding process has begun.
PPC’s investment plan also includes the withdrawal of its facilities and units that cannot be used alternatively, such as huge excavators or cooling towers. This is an investment of € 130 million and aims to recycle 95% of materials.
“Our responsibility to deliver the space just as we received it. Let’s leave the place more beautiful than before, “said Mr. Stassis. In this context, 80,000 acres of former lignite areas will be returned to the State, an investment of € 270 million that will create 500 jobs. To maintain history, PPC intends to establish a Museum of Energy in Western Macedonia.
Today the 550 MW park is completed in the former Ptolemais mine, where 2,000 people worked, while the 940 MW park of the Amyntaio Consortium, which is one of the largest in the world, is moving forward.
In addition, PPC is planning a budget of $ 1.2 billion for the construction of 2,130 photovoltaics in former mines.