Nikos Mantzaris talked about The Green Tank’s report on the decarbonization of Greek industry to Flash TV Kozani and journalist Vangelis Christodoulos on Friday 10 January 2025.
As he explained, in recent years the carbon footprint of the two most polluting sectors of Greek industry – cement production and oil refining – has remained stagnant due to free emission rights. It is estimated that over the period 2013-2024 cement industries saved €1.66 billion, while refineries saved €1.25 billion.
However, with the latest revision of the ETS Directive in 2023, free allowances are phased out starting in 2026 and reaching 0 in 2034. In the face of these developments, Greek cement companies and refineries have shown quick reflexes: they have applied for and received funding from the Innovation Fund and have already started to implement three carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects.
Of course, they are evidently concerned about their competitiveness. But, as Nikos Mantzaris noted, the two most polluting sectors of Greek industry have understood that their survival goes through their green transformation, unlike, for example, the previous attitude of the PPC which until 2019 was trying to prolong the lignite-based power generation model by claiming exemptions.
Regarding the opinion survey included in the Green Tank report, he pointed out that there is agreement between industry representatives, the state and civil society that changes need to be made.
On climate policy, civil society believes that targets for industry should be even more ambitious and that emissions allowances should be phased out more quickly. On the other hand, on this issue there are different views among industry representatives: some said that climate targets are too ambitious, while others said that these targets should be intensified along with measures to protect competitiveness.
There is consensus among industry people on the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), as they consider it insufficient to protect competitiveness. Among the measures they propose as a solution is to create a centralized EU-level financing mechanism.
To sum up, there is a great deal of concern in an ever-changing landscape, while the European Union remains committed to strengthening and complementing the Green Deal.
Consequently, Nikos Mantzaris concluded that both the EU and national governments must help with the decarbonization of industry; this must be done on balanced terms. Among the Green Tank’s proposals are the electrification of industry, support for self-production in industry (but not at the expense of smaller self-producers), an institutional framework for CCS and a centralized EU-level financing mechanism.
You can watch the interview with Nikos Mantzaris on our YouTube channel (in Greek) here.