The Dynamo Kythira Citizens« Movement denounces: »TERNA's operation to destroy Kythira"

The major issue of installing industrial wind farms in Kythira is back in the spotlight, with TERNA submitting an Environmental Impact Study (EIS) to the Ministry of Environment, marking the project's entry into the environmental licensing stage.

The Kythira Citizens' Movement – Dynamo Kythira In a statement, it sounds the alarm, describing the projects as “disastrous” for the island and calling on the local community to take new action.

According to the EIA, the investment involves the creation of three Wind Power Plants (WPP) with a total installed capacity of 135MW, at the locations «Karvounolakos - Finikies» (31.5 MW), «Kordelides» (51.96 MW) and «Xerokambia» (47.9 MW). The wind turbines, with a total height of 250 meters, will be installed within areas of the Natura 2000 network, which is causing strong reactions.

The Citizens« Movement recalls that in 2024 a Special Environmental Study (SES) was conducted for the island, which recognizes Kythira as one of the most important »migratory bottlenecks" in the eastern Mediterranean for birds. The SEM concludes that the installation of industrial wind farms is completely incompatible with the environmental importance of the island and should be prohibited.

However, as pointed out in the announcement, despite the completion of the public consultation on the EPM more than a year ago, no relevant ministerial decision has yet been issued, nor has it been institutionalized by Presidential Decree. The Movement believes that TERNA is rushing to preempt the approval of the EPM, which could potentially block the project.

The Environmental Impact Study has been posted on Electronic Environmental Registry of the Ministry of Environment and Energy (https://eprm.ypen.gr) and the deadline for public consultation expires on July 9, 2025.

The Citizens' Movement calls on the community of Kythira to once again show unity and determination in the face of what it describes as a threat to the future of the island.

The full press release follows:

Citizens' Movement of Kythira – Dynamo Kythira

PRESS RELEASE

The moment of truth has arrived for the island of Kythira!

TERNA is now moving on to the next stage, that of environmental licensing, by submitting the ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STUDY to the Ministry of Environment for the project:

‘A complex of three (3) (ASPE) with a total installed capacity of 135MW and a maximum output of 131.42MW at the locations ’KARVUNOLAKKOS – Foinikies (31.5 MW), Kordelides (51.96 MW), and Xerokampia (47.9 MW).

These are huge projects within NATURA 2000 areas with wind turbines reaching a total height of 250 meters, visible from everywhere, which will literally destroy the island.

In 2024, the Ministry of Environment conducted a SPECIAL ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY (E.P.M.) for Kythira. According to the study, the geographical location of Kythira, in southwestern Greece, at the southernmost tip of the Balkan Peninsula, is a very important «migratory bottleneck» in the central-eastern Mediterranean for millions of birds that make their annual migration in the spring months from their wintering grounds in Africa to Eurasia and vice versa in the autumn. During the two migration periods, 35 species of birds of prey have been recorded in Kythira, out of a total of 45 species recorded in Europe.

According to the study, energy production from industrial wind farms should be banned on the island as it is completely incompatible with its environmental value and poses a very serious threat to the protected site.

However, the EMP may have been drafted and the public consultation may have been completed more than a year ago, but it has not yet been approved by ministerial decision and, moreover, has not yet been issued as a presidential decree. The investor is clearly trying to preempt the final approval of the EMP, which prohibits the installation of industrial wind farms in the island's NATURA 2000 areas.

The ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STUDY is posted on the ELECTRONIC ENVIRONMENTAL REGISTER of the Ministry of Environment (https://eprm.ypen.gr) and its consultation period ends on 9-7-2025.

THE MOMENT OF TRUTH HAS ARRIVED! Until now, the island has shown unity, harmony, and incredible maturity as a society in facing the threat of projects of this scale, and for this reason, it has been successful. Once again, in difficult times, it is called upon to show its teeth and fight for its future.

P.S. We will return shortly with more information about the size of the projects, their locations, how to participate in the consultation, and many other issues.