Acheloos River Diversion Scheme, Greece
Key Data:
Estimated expected water transfer
600 million m³
Project elements
Mesochora
Mega dam (150m) and reservoir
Mesochora – Glystra tunnel (7.5km)
Sykia
Mega dam (150m) and reservoir
Sykia diversion channel to Thessaly (17.4km)
Mouzaki
Major dam (135m) and reservoir
Pyli – Mouzaki tunnel (8m)
Pyli
Dam (90m) and reservoir
Original funding estimate
€450m
National budget contribution
€207m
Estimated construction costs
€720m
Estimated total project cost
€3–4.5bn (1996)
Area to be irrigated
240,000ha to 380,000ha
Project Timeline:
First suggested
1930
Adopted
1984
Cost benefit study commissioned
1988
EU funding applications
1990
Opposition campaign launched
1992
EU rejects funding application
1993
First restraining order issued
1994
Bern Committee formal complaint
1995
Greek ministerial approval of EIA
1995
Tunnel contract awarded
1997
Second restraining order issued
1999
Ministerial approval ruled illegal
2000
National budget allocation announced
2001
Resumption of construction
2003
Construction suspended
2004
Parliament pass legal amendments to allow work to proceed
19th July 2006
Key Players:
Client / sponsor
Ministry of Environment, Regional Planning and Public Works, Greece
HEP operator
DEH - Greek Public Power Corporation
Main contractor (diversion tunnel)
Impregilo-Gnomon-Tegk consortium
Financial consultants to Greek Government (cost benefit analysis)
Morgan Grenfell
Financial consultants to European Union (funding application)
Coopers & Lybrand
Engineering, installation and commissioning (Sykia and Pefkofyto HEP plants)
Prometheus Gas SA (in consortium with German and Russian supplier companies)
Other contractors
Itia, Kalaouzis, Electrowatt, Marinos, Koutsoyiannis
Environmental NGOs
WWF Greece, Hellenic Ornithological Society, Elliniki Etairia , Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature WWF Germany, WWF UK, Greenpeace, Birdlife International, RSPB, European Environmental Bureau, Ornitologisk Forening (Denmark)
