On October 8, 2026, officials gathered at the Skouries site in Halkidiki, Greece, to mark the milestone ahead of commercial operations. The event was attended by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, cabinet members, regional authorities, and senior executives from Eldorado Gold and Hellas Gold. Eldorado Gold president Christian Miro characterized the facility as a major engineering achievement, emphasizing its strategic relevance given projected increases in global copper demand.
Skouries represents the country’s largest combined gold and copper operation and ranks among Europe’s most significant mining developments. After three decades of legal challenges and public opposition, the project has secured regulatory approval and operational readiness. According to official statements, commercial extraction and processing will officially begin by December 2026.
The commissioning of Skouries introduces a measurable supply addition to European base and precious metal markets, potentially easing regional concentration risks in copper refining and gold output. It also signals a policy shift toward facilitating large-scale foreign direct investment in Greece’s extractive sector, despite longstanding environmental and social debates surrounding the site.