The steps to be taken by the end of 2025 for the implementation of the project for the digitization of archival heritage related to the development of the natural gas sector in Greece, were the focus of the kick off meeting held by representatives of Italgas and its subsidiary in Greece, Enaon, the Historical Archive of the National Bank of Greece, and the General State Archives, in an atmosphere of constructive dialogue.
The meeting took place on Monday, July 28, 2025, at Enaon’s headquarters in Athens, as a follow-up to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the interested parties on June 20, 2025, establishing a five-year cooperation framework with the aim of documenting the historical, cultural and industrial heritage of the natural gas sector and making this accessible to all.
To this end, valuable archival material held mainly in the General State Archives and the Historical Archive of the National Bank will be utilized, as well as the expertise developed at Italgas’ Heritage Lab -a Laboratory for Digital Innovation which plays a key role in preserving the vast heritage of Italgas archive. A common goal is the identification of all sources containing relevant archival material in Greece, which will contribute to the development of a digital platform to be utilized for the benefit of all interested parties.
Ms Barbara Morgante, CEO of Enaon, highlighted: “The launch of this partnership marks an important milestone in the enhancement of the historical and industrial heritage of natural gas in Greece, as it is an integral part of our mission for a sustainable and responsible energy transformation. Through this collaboration with prestigious institutions, such as the Historical Archive of the National Bank and the General State Archives we are working together to certify, digitise and enhance the natural gas route in Greece, utilising the expertise developed at the Italgas Heritage Lab thanks to the support of our Italian colleagues. We believe that integrating historical memory into the modern energy landscape is essential not only for understanding the past, but also for responsibly planning for the future. This initiative strengthens reinforces the historical ties between Greece and Italy, and promotes cross-sector synergies in the fields of culture, innovation, and education.”
Ms Amalia Pappa, Deputy General Director of the General State Archives of Greece, emphasized: “The signing of the Memorandum on June 20 marked the beginning of a highly promising collaboration which, in our view, will provide the research community and the educational community at all levels with a valuable tool for navigating and highlighting aspects of the industrial heritage of Italy and Greece. This will be made possible both through the utilization of the archival sources of the General State Archives (GSA) and through the exercise of the GSA’s supervisory responsibilities and provision of expertise in identifying and mapping relevant sources across public and private institutions in the country. In today’s first meeting, the project’s objectives, phases, and the necessary timeline for implementing the individual actions according to the terms of the Memorandum must be defined, and the need to determine the roles of the participating institutions was acknowledged”.
Ms Pari Kalamara, Head of the Historical Archive of the National Bank of Greece noted: “The kick off meeting of July 28, 2025, held in implementation of our MoU, was particularly constructive and represents an important first step toward achieving the project’s objectives. The formation of a scientific team has already been initiated to identify and study archival sources that shed light on the long history of natural gas in Greece, primarily preserved in the Historical Archive of the National Bank and the General State Archives. Based on the findings of this research, it will be possible to understand the scope of the digitization project we have jointly undertaken, and to lay the groundwork for designing the optimal approach to showcasing the history of this important sector of the energy industry for the benefit of society. Lastly, the Heritage Lab of Italgas, which was presented during the meeting, shared with us the positive experience of our Italian partners in managing industrial heritage in a similar context”
The meeting was also attended by Mr. Υiannis Stoyannidis, historian and Associate Professor at the University of West Attica, whose expertise will contribute significantly to shaping the strategic direction of the project. Mr Stogiannidis, historian and Associate Professor at the University of West Attica, stated: “The need to reassemble the fragmented units of the archive of the Athens Municipal Gasworks Enterprise was identified as early as 2013, during the completion of archival research for the Industrial Gas Museum of the City of Athens. Twelve years later, the mapping of documents and archival units is being expanded with the contribution of experienced executives from the General State Archives and the Historical Archive of the National Bank of Greece. In collaboration with the Heritage Lab of Italgas and Enaon, the two archival institutions will develop a thematic digital repository, which will allow online users to freely explore the history and heritage of an earlier form of energy. Issues concerning energy management, labour in the sector, and trade will be highlighted through the study of the material. Throughout the project, the University of West Attica will contribute to the design of the repository, and new archivists will be trained in the implementation of a pivotal project involving the digital reconstruction of the corporate past of gas fuels. We aspire for the project to serve as a model for the proper management of business archives and to showcase their value for corporate identity. The active involvement of the national archival service and the archival body of the country’s most historic bank ensures the success of the project.”
During the kick off meeting, the steps to be taken until the end of 2025 were discussed, among other things, as well as ways to optimally allocate resources. All parties also reaffirmed their commintment to implement a project of high cultural and educational value.
Furthermore, on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, representatives from Italgas and Enaon visited the Central Service of the General State Archives and were given a tour of the Digitization Center.
By leveraging cutting-edge technology, this initiative bridges the country’s long history with the present day bringing cultural heritage closer to the public and paving new pathways for its future utilization.
