The Municipal Council of Milos has sent a defiant message against geothermal exploitation on the island, issuing a unanimous resolution in response to a request by PPC Renewables to conduct exploratory drilling.
The Council stated its absolute opposition to any planning, preparatory actions, or business activities regarding geothermal energy. They firmly emphasized that the island cannot be treated as an “energy exploitation field” or an industrial zone. Local authorities stress that Milos’s identity relies on a development model centered on environmental respect, public health, and tourism quality—all of which are threatened by high-enthalpy (high-temperature) geothermal projects.
A major concern is the incompatibility of heavy energy projects with Milos’s standing as a world-class, sensitive tourism destination. While the government’s new Strategic Environmental Impact Assessment for Renewable Energy recognizes the fragility of small islands by banning large wind farms on islands under 300 square kilometers, it leaves high-enthalpy geothermal exploration wide open. The Municipality argues this creates a massive contradiction that completely ignores the island’s actual carrying capacity and local community consent.
Milos says “No” to disruptive support infrastructure
Furthermore, the Council highlights that Milos already faces cumulative environmental stress from ongoing mining activities, heavy tourism pressure, and an overburdened infrastructure regarding water needs and the road network.
Introducing industrial geothermal activity would require disruptive support infrastructure—such as heavy vehicle traffic, extensive excavations, transmission grids, and substations—that could irreparably degrade the island’s unique volcanic landscape and fragile ecosystem.
The Municipal Council concludes with an urgent call to the Greek government, ministries, and licensing authorities to respect the explicit will and decision of the local community.
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