Miners in Skouries, northern Greece started protesting against the government’s decision to suspend the Hellas Gold construction project in the area. On Monday, some 30 miners locked themselves inside the Skouries mine.
Shouting slogans such as “we won’t give up if we are not vindicated” the protesters showed their determination to continue protesting until their request is fulfilled. The miners are well acquainted with the mine and the underground tunnels, therefore they do not appear to be in immediate danger. On its part, Hellas Gold has informed the public that it has opened all the vents to protect the miners’ health, while a doctor has been placed on scene.
Over the weekend the 2,000 miners who used to work in Skouries, Halkidiki, northern Greece had closed off the roads that lead to a local village called Stratoni. Their protest led to the arrest of two men who were released a little while later.
In response to the arguments presented by the Greek Ministry of Productive Reconstruction, Environment and Energy, Hellas Gold has stated that the approved project plans were submitted in time. They also pointed out they have consulted experts in order to find the only technically possible way to ensure the applicability of their project, assuring that the findings presented in this study are clearly subsequent to the conditions imposed in February 2012.
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