Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited the 840MW combined-cycle gas power plant under construction in the industrial zone of Alexandroupolis, casting the project as a cornerstone of Greece's growing role as a regional energy hub in Southeastern Europe.
The plant, backed by more than 400 million euros in investment from PPC and DEPA Commercial, is expected to connect to the national grid in 2027 and create 80 permanent jobs. During his visit, Mitsotakis said that "in Alexandroupolis the energy 'heart' is beating, I would say not only of Greece but of all Eastern Europe", linking the project to wider geopolitical shifts following recent announcements in Washington on activating the Vertical Corridor gas initiative.
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He stated that the changes in the Evros region over the past six to seven years demonstrate a calculated plan to utilise Alexandroupolis' strategic position. "Our decisions are justified," he remarked, pointing to significant investments in LNG facilities and the offshore floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) where the new plant will connect.
Mitsotakis stressed that the gas-fired unit will be "absolutely complementary to Renewable Energy Sources", highlighting nearby wind turbines as part of a broader energy mix. He said the combination of renewables and efficient gas units will allow Greece to aim for lower electricity prices and to continue its recent shift towards becoming an electricity exporter rather than an importer.
Executives involved in the project described it as a flexible, heavy-industrial unit that strengthens Greece's export profile and "shields our Greek system" amid geopolitical uncertainty.
Earlier, the prime minister also toured Prisma Electronics' facilities in Alexandroupolis. This high-tech company designs and manufactures advanced electronic systems for defence, aerospace, shipping, industrial applications, and critical infrastructure. Guided by the company's leadership, he met staff and was briefed on projects developed in cooperation with international organisations such as the European Space Agency, Airbus DS and CERN.
Describing the visit as "a pleasant surprise," Mitsotakis praised the company for creating 150 highly skilled, well-paid jobs. He also announced a new public employment program that will provide 2,000 subsidised full-time jobs across Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, with support of up to 875 euros per month to help cover wages and other costs. "There is no successful company without satisfied employees," he said, stressing that support for innovation, defence technology, and critical infrastructure continues to be a national priority amid rising European defence spending.
Company chief executive Christos Giordamlis said it was an honour to showcase how Greek firms "produce and innovate", enabling both Greek and European businesses to compete internationally.
