2017

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Official start of works for the construction of the Serres waste treatment plant

Paiania, 22/06/2017 – A ceremony was held today for the official start of works on the construction of the Serres waste treatment plant at the “Ereipia Neraidas” (Fairy Ruins) location in the Municipality of Heraklea. The “Serres Prefecture Waste Treatment Plant Construction” project is implemented with the participation of the Greek public sector, the Central Macedonia Regional Association of Solid Waste Management Organizations (FODSA) and the special purpose vehicle SIRRA SA, an Intrakat, Archirodon and Envitec joint venture.

 

The project was inaugurated by Michalis Geranis, President of the Central Macedonia Regional Association of Solid Waste Management Organizations and Intrakat CEO Petros Souretis, on behalf of the special purpose vehicle SIRRA SA. The ceremony was attended by government officials and local authority representatives.

 

During the event, Intrakat CEO Petros Souretis noted:

 

“The construction of the Serres waste treatment plant, a public-private partnership project undertaken by the Intrakat, Archirodon and Envitec joint venture, highlights the fact that collaborative efforts can best leverage the capabilities for major projects. Moreover, it underscores the trust Greek construction companies enjoy.

 

The multiple benefits to the greater Serres area, Central Macedonia and the national economy from this construction project and the waste treatment unit include:

 

  • the creation of new job positions for the next 25 years
  • the employment of local subcontractor crews during the project’s construction phase
  • and, of course, the implementation of an advanced, high tech waste management system, one of the best in Europe.

 

We will be together in the next 25 years laying the foundations of a new era of sustainable development and improved living standards for local residents.”

 

The public-private partnership has undertaken to design, finance, construct, maintain and operate the Serres Prefecture waste treatment plant infrastructure facilities. The contracting SPV is a joint venture of Intrakat (40%), Archirodon (40%) and Envitec (20%). The Central Macedonia Regional Association of Solid Waste Management Organizations is the Project Implementation and Contracting Authority.

 

The project is budgeted at 36.2 million euros, with 15.2 million euros in 2014-2020 NSRF funds having been secured for its implementation, as part of the ‘Transport Infrastructure, Environment and Sustainable Development’ Operational Program. The balance of the investment is covered by the joint venture (9.2 million euros) and bank financing (11.8 million euros).

 

Construction is expected to be completed in approximately two years and the contracting company has undertaken to operate the waste management unit, which can treat up to 63 thousand tons of waste (annually), according to the contract terms, for 25 years following the completion of construction.

 

The Serres Prefecture waste treatment plant will cover the needs of the Serres Prefecture municipalities (Amphipolis, Visaltia, Emmanuel Pappas, Heraklea, Nea Zichni, Serres, Sintiki) and those of the Kilkis Municipality, meeting the objectives set by the National Waste Management Plan and the Central Macedonia Regional Waste Management Plan, as approved by the Ministry of Environment and Energy and the Central Macedonia Region.

 

The plant will use mechanical recycling and aerobic composting technologies. Mechanical recycling will recover usable materials (plastics, metal and paper) using advanced equipment, such as optical sorters and magnetic separators. The remaining waste will be aerobically composted into Compost-Like Output (CLO) to be used in reclaiming quarries, sanitary landfills, etc. In terms of composting, the selected technology will allow the plant to process preselected materials recycled at the source, as per Greek state objectives, and produce high quality compost suitable even for agricultural use.

 

Project benefits, according to the Central Macedonia Regional Association of Solid Waste Management Organizations, include:

 

  • the application of an environmentally sound solution
  • the strengthening of the employment base with the creation of 150 job positions during construction and 25 years of operation
  • the avoidance of EC fines
  • the generation of revenue streams from waste treatment products