The Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Evangelos Tournas, and the Chairman and CEO of the Independent Power Transmission Operator (ADMIE), Manos Manousakis, signed a Memorandum of Cooperation aimed at strengthening forest fire prevention and protecting the country’s critical energy infrastructure.
According to the relevant announcement, the Memorandum provides for cooperation between the two entities in the planning and implementation of firebreaks along the power transmission lines of the National Power Transmission System that pass through forests and forested areas, with the aim of preventing risks to energy infrastructure and ensuring the country’s uninterrupted power supply.
As part of this collaboration, the Fire Department prepares an annual prioritization map of areas requiring intervention, utilizing operational data and the National Forest Fire Risk Assessment Map. ADMIE is responsible for carrying out the necessary clearing, pruning, thinning, and creation of firebreaks, in accordance with the instructions of the relevant Fire Department units and applicable forestry legislation.
At the same time, a Monitoring and Coordination Committee is being established, along with joint inspection teams, which will monitor the progress of the work, certify its completion, and ensure the effective implementation of the Memorandum.
The first intervention areas for the year 2026 have already been designated in the Hippocrates City–Sfendali and Ekali–Nea Penteli regions, with a total area of firebreak zones exceeding 516 stremmata.
The cost of implementing the projects is covered entirely by ADMIE, with no financial burden on the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection. The Memorandum has a duration of three years, with the option to renew.
Evangelos Tournas, Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, stated:
“Protecting the country’s critical infrastructure is an integral part of the national strategy for Civil Protection.
With the Memorandum of Cooperation we are signing today with ADMIE, we are transforming prevention into a stable, organized, and ongoing process. We are establishing a permanent mechanism for cooperation, featuring joint planning, clear responsibilities, and continuous monitoring, so that the necessary interventions can be carried out where the greatest operational need exists.
Protecting the National Electric Power Transmission System is not just about energy infrastructure. It concerns the safety of citizens, the country’s resilience to natural disasters, and ensuring the uninterrupted operation of critical services.
Cooperation between the government and the National Transmission Operator—when based on a clear institutional framework, joint planning, and a shared goal—is a key pillar for effectively preventing and strengthening the country’s resilience in the face of the challenges posed by the climate crisis.”
Manos Manousakis, Chairman and CEO of the Independent Power Transmission Operator (ADMIE), stated:
“ADMIE is a steadfast ally in the demanding work of the Ministry of Climate and Civil Protection. The renewal of the Memorandum of Cooperation reaffirms the Operator’s commitment to the joint effort to prevent and combat wildfires and to safeguard critical energy infrastructure.
In the context of the climate crisis, measures to establish firebreaks are essential to ensure greater operational flexibility in the field and to more effectively protect the public’s access to a stable power supply.
ADMIE, using all the resources at its disposal, will continue to assist Civil Protection forces in order to ensure the best possible response to natural disasters and to strengthen the resilience of the power system.”