The projects for the arrival of natural gas to Patras, Agrinio, and Pyrgos, with a total budget of 41 million euros put an end to the energy isolation of Western Greece
A new energy era is beginning for the Region of Western Greece, through the pioneering natural gas distribution infrastructure projects being developed in the cities of Patras, Agrinio, and Pyrgos by Hellenic Gas Distribution Company Enaon EDA, a subsidiary of Enaon, utilizing the expertise of its parent group, Italgas.
The CEO of Enaon EDA, Ms. Francesca Zanninotti, and the Regional Governor of Western Greece, Mr. Nektarios Farmakis, in the press conference held today in the meeting hall of the Regional Council in Patras, announced the initiation of natural gas supply to the Patras Industrial Area and the connection of the first industrial consumer, Athenian Brewery, to the natural gas distribution network being developed in the area.
The supply of the network in Patras will be carried out through two small-scale onshore Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Stations, which are installed in the Patras Industrial Area (VI.PE.). This is a state-of-the-art project, implemented to the highest safety and quality standards, following the Italgas model used in Sardinia.
This innovative project puts an end to the long-standing energy isolation of Western Greece, which is not connected to the national natural gas transmission network, by providing households, businesses, and industries in the region with access to a more affordable and environmentally friendly form of energy.
The Regional Governor of Western Greece, Mr. Nektarios Farmakis, emphasized: “After years of waiting and overcoming many major obstacles, Western Greece is gaining access to natural gas and this is no longer just words, but a tangible reality. Today, as the great gamble of natural gas takes shape, we have every reason to be happy, seeing that the great and almost persistent efforts we have made in the past years are justified.” Mr. Farmakis referred to the short past and the efforts of the Regional Authority for the implementation of the project, which resulted in the increase of the projected connection of domestic users by about 4,500, while he also referred to the future dimension, noting: “We are happy that our region is now entering into a new energy era, but we are not celebrating. And we are not celebrating because, firstly, we know that this era for Western Greece should have come many years ago. Secondly, because we know that we are just at the beginning. So we will be here to see not only the completion of the local networks in our three major cities, but also to work for the full expansion of the gas network in every town and village of Western Greece. Our claim for the expansion of the high-pressure pipeline and the right of every business and every household in this place to alternative, more modern and greener forms of energy remains fully active.”
The CEO of Enaon EDA, Ms. Francesca Zanninotti, stated:“Today marks a milestone for Western Greece and for the future of energy distribution in the country. We are proud to announce the arrival of natural gas in Patras, the third largest city in Greece, starting with the Industrial Area and the supply of our first industrial consumer, Athenian Brewery. The small scale LNG infrastructure project we are developing in VI.PE. of Patras with the expertise of the parent group Italgas is putting an end to the long-standing energy isolation of Western Greece. This is a unique project, which could not have been implemented without the cooperation of all the stakeholders and the collective effort of the Company’s employees. I would like to express my sincere thanks to the Authority of the Region of Western Greece, which is co-financing this project, for its excellent cooperation and its valuable contribution to the implementation of the project, as well as to the municipal authorities, the local bodies and the residents of the region for their trust and enthusiasm for our project. The project in Patras is in full development while the construction of the network within the city is underway. At the same time, work is ongoing for the extension of the network in Agrinio and Pyrgos. This project underlines our commitment to expand the distribution of natural gas even in areas that are geographically remote from the national transmission system, through innovative infrastructure developed to the highest standards of safety and quality.”
Νatural gas distribution infrastructure development projects in the Region of Western Greece, specifically in the cities of Patras, Agrinio, and Pyrgos, have a total budget of approximately 41 million euros and are co-financed by Enaon EDA funds and resources from the Regional Operational Programme of Western Greece (NSRF 2021-2027) and the Public Investment Programme. More than 15,000 consumers of all categories are expected to be connected to the network by 2029, enjoying the benefits of using a cleaner and more economical form of energy, of which over 7,500 connections have been planned under the co-financed project and will be constructed by the end of 2027.
In Patras, as part of the project, a total of 125 km of low and medium-pressure network will be constructed, of which approximately 30 km of low and medium-pressure network have been completed to date. The construction of the network within the Patras Industrial Area has been completed, and the connection of the first industrial consumer, Athenian Brewery, took place on April 28th. Αlso, the activation of the second major industrial consumer is underway, and it is estimated that another 6 industrial facilities will be connected to the network by the end of 2025.
The use of natural gas will result in significant savings in the consumption of industries, as well as in their operational costs, while also enhancing their production processes and competitiveness. At the same time, the environmental benefits will be particularly important. When burned, natural gas produces significantly less carbon dioxide compared to other conventional fuels, thus contributing to an immediate improvement in the environmental footprint of industries.
In Patras, the construction of the network within the city is underway in full cooperation with the Municipality, while the first consumers are expected to be connected in March 2026. The natural gas distribution infrastructure project in the city of Patras is expected to be completed at the beginning of 2027.
In addition to Patras, natural gas distribution network development projects are underway in Agrinio and Pyrgos. The projects include the construction of 72 km of network in Agrinio and 16 km of network in Pyrgos.
To date, approximately 10 km of low pressure network has been constructed in the city of Agrinio. Work is progressing as planned and additional 8 km of network is expected to be completed by the end of the year. During the summer, works are planned for the LNG in Agrinio. In Pyrgos, construction work is expected to start in June and the activation of the network for both cities is programmed for the 1st quarter in 2026.
It is worth noting that, as part of this co-funded project, all residential and commercial consumers benefit from a 100% discount on connection fees.
