Corinth Canal – Damage restoration begins in 2022

On Christmas Eve, the decision of the Ministry was finally signed, based on which the restoration works of the dams on the slopes of the Corinth canal are exempted from the obligation to comply with the environmental permitting process. The exemption is given for two years due to the urgency and emergency concerning public safety and the restoration of the smoothness of navigation.

Thus, about a year after the first landslide in the canal in November 2020 – although the first problems had already begun to appear in 2018 – the way is now open for work to begin in January, as stated in early December by Deputy Minister of Environment Mr. Nikos Tagaras.

The Ministry decision was preceded on December 10 by the approval of the Coordinator of the Decentralized Administration of Peloponnese, Western Greece and the Ionian Sea of ​​the Technical File of the project. The project concerns the restoration of the damages caused on the slope of the Corinth canal (from the Peloponnese side) during the period between November 2020 and February 2021, culminating on February 3, 2021, when the large landslide that occurred was estimated to reach, in volume , at about 15,000 to 20,000 cubic meters (m3). As a result of the successive phenomena the canal remains closed.

The repair works concern excavations on the slopes, accompanied by appropriate welds, drainage drillings, surface formations with permanent driveways of even heavy vehicles and the required hydraulic works for the treatment of surface waters. They also include works to strengthen the southern pier of the Loutraki sewage viaduct to the biological treatment plant, but also a new wall to protect against ripples which restores the cross section of the canal on the slope of the Peloponnese.

The foundation of the southern pier of the biological treatment bridge should also be strengthened, measures should be taken to enhance stability, with slope configurations, the materials resulting from the rock falls should be collected by boat, but also the bottom should be cleaned, etc. .

Within two years, ie by the end of 2023, the body responsible for the operation of the Corinth Canal will have to comply with the requirements of the environmental licensing legislation for the overall project, by submitting an Environmental Impact Study for the operation and maintenance of the Canal. to the competent environmental authority, in order to issue, after public consultation with the public as well as the consulting services, the Decision of Approval of Environmental Conditions (AEPO).