The combined effects of climate change and increased tourism are placing ever-increasing pressure on water supplies in the Mediterranean. Water supply in the Greek islands has always been problematic and residents have traditionally used cisterns to collect winter rainfall for use in the summer. On some small islands water has been shipped in by boat, but this is becoming increasingly expensive. A few have installed desalination units, which provide a quick solution to water shortages but are energy-hungry and require constant maintenance – which has led to some falling into disuse. However, modern pressures have led to a resurgence of interest in desalination, the island of Gavdos being a recent example.
Continue readingTag Archives: Gavdos
Earthquake felt in Chania
An earthquake of magnitude 5.2 Richter struck Western Crete at 7.30 pm local time (14:29:55 GMT) yesterday evening, 28th August. With an epicentre 14 km east-northeast of Gavdos and a focal depth of 13.6 km, the tremor was felt strongly in Gavdos and Sfakia and was also noticeable in the city of Chania and as far west as Platanias.
Continue readingBreeding climate-resistant bees on Gavdos
In a groundbreaking programme funded by the Hellenic Agricultural Organisation, ELGO-Dimitra, bees resistant to the new conditions brought about by climate change and to illnesses such as the parasitic disease of varroosis have been propagated on Crete’s southernmost outpost of Gavdos. A pilot apiary set up by ELGO-Dimitra with the aim of producing a Greek species of honeybee with hybrid characteristics has been completely successful, providing encouraging data for beekeepers, according to a report in Haniotika Nea.
Continue readingNew energy subsidies for December
Following the announcement of new electricity prices by the power suppliers, the government has announced the subsidies it will be paying for households and businesses for the month of December 2022. The total amount available for subsidies for the month is 435 million euros.
Electricity – domestic tariffs
For all supplies to primary and non-primary residences, regardless of income and supplier, the scales for December are as follows:
– For monthly consumption of up to 500 kWh, which covers 90 per cent of Greek households, the subsidy is 221 euros per megawatt/hour, or 22.1 cents per kWh.
– For monthly consumption of 501 to 1,000 kWh, the subsidy is 171 euros per megawatt/hour (17.1 cents per kWh). Additionally, households which achieve a 15 per cent reduction in daily consumption compared with the same period last year will receive an additional subsidy of 50 euros per mWh.
– For monthly consumption over 1,000 kWh, the subsidy will be 81 euros per mWh.
Families who are enrolled in the Social Residential Tariff will receive a subsidy of 269 euros per mWh.
Electricity – business tariffs
For commercial consumers with supplies of up to 35KVa, who consume up to 2,000 kWh in the month, the subsidy for December will be 183 euros per mWh.
For professional and commercial consumers with supplies of up to 35kVa who consume up to 2,000 kWh, as well as all other non-domestic tariffs for low-, medium- and high-tension supplies, the subsidy will be 34 euros per mWh.
For farmers there is a flat-rate subsidy of 221 euros per mWh.
Natural gas – domestic tariffs
The national gas supplier DEPA in collaboration with the other suppliers will give a flat-rate subsidy of 15 euros per thermic mWh for all domestic consumers. The measure affects 700,000 domestic consumers regardless of income, dwelling size or supplier.
Source: www.odigostoupoliti.eu
Free firewood on Gavdos
Meanwhile, on Gavdos, the smallest municipality in the Nomos of Chania, the authorities are distributing free firewood to all the island’s residents. For the first time this year, with the permission of the forestry department, the municipality has felled a substantial number of pine trees which had dried out or were visibly in danger of falling and causing damage, or of constituting sources of flammable materials in case of fire.
The felled trees have been cut up and shared out to the island’s inhabitants for them to use as fuel in their stoves and fireplaces. The initial needs of the island’s households have already been met and there is an equvalent amount left which has been stored for distribution when the first installment runs out.
According to an announcement on the municipality’s website: “this initiative took place in the context of a sincere effort by the municipality to promote Social Cohesion on our far-flung island, something which is growing thanks to the effect of our work as whole in the local community relative to the particular conditions which we are faced with. As the Municipality, through this initiative we have – at the least – been able to give a dynamic response to the uncontrolled energy crisis, creating in practice the warmth which as humans we are all entitled to!”
The project is being put forward as a candidate for the Innovation in Politics and other EU awards.
Source: Haniotika Nea, 18th November.