Between church and coal

“The Greek West Macedonian region of Kozani is currently producing around 80% of the electricity consumed by the country. In the late fifties, the Greek government started the construction of a coal mine in the area, subsequently surrounded by five coal power plants. Since its construction, the economy of the entire region has been based on mining activities and two thirds of the local population are employed in connection to mining and the production of electricity.

As the mine expanded throughout the years, a large number of villages with coal in the ground beneath them were abandoned and relocated to the nearby hills; others had to learn to coexist with the mine.

This church used to be in the center of the little village of Komanos, which was surrounded by hills. Some years ago, the village was abandoned and prepared for excavation; but the workers of the coal mine like to tell how every time someone receives the order to demolish the church, he either refuses to do so, or the caterpillar assigned to undertake the job is broken down.

This picture and the work I did in this area of Greece are part of a long-term project about the consequences the economic crisis is having on the country. While the entire world is starting to convert energy production into more sustainable and less polluting methods, in 2013 the Greek government agreed on the construction of a new major coal plant, that will be ready in 2020.”