Northeastern Halkidiki in northern Greece is seeing a large construction workforce arrive to support the expansion of the Skouries gold and copper project. Thousands of workers from across the Balkans are involved in construction activities tied to the mine, which is expected to move toward production later this year. The area has also been shaped by changes in local housing availability and occupancy patterns.
Workforce influx and rental market pressure
In villages such as Megali Panagia, rental availability has nearly disappeared, according to listings on Greek housing platforms including Spitogatos, Spiti24 and Tospitimou. One of the remaining properties described as a fully furnished maisonette with electric heating was advertised at €1,500 per month. The landlord said the property could accommodate two tenants described as “workers.”
The landlord’s description referred to laborers arriving from Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia and other Balkan countries. The construction workforce is reported to exceed 3,000 people per day connected to work at the nearby Skouries site. The influx has altered activity across the wider Cassandra mining district, where tourism- and seasonal accommodation-linked areas are increasingly occupied by construction firms and mining contractors.
Project approvals and financing for Skouries
Fifteen years ago, the Skouries project was described as one of Greece’s most controversial mining developments. Government approval was followed by intense opposition from local residents and environmental groups, with protests and riots reported between 2012 and 2014. Development continued despite resistance.
Eldorado Gold, operating through its subsidiary Hellas Gold, proceeded with development of the project. Full construction was approved in 2021, followed by a €680 million financing package in 2022. Over time, opposition weakened as economic conditions deteriorated following the Greek debt crisis.
Cassandra Mines background and expansion scope
Mining activity in northeastern Halkidiki dates back centuries, with the Cassandra Mines complex located in the Municipality of Aristotle. The complex has operated since the late 19th century and was acquired by Hellas Gold in 2003. In 2011, the Greek government approved an expansion of Skouries.
The approved expansion included an open-pit gold and copper mine and a processing facility. The decision was described as triggering one of the most divisive industrial disputes in modern Greek history. Development proceeded despite ongoing legal and political challenges.
Environmental concerns raised over mining impacts
Environmental organizations warned that the project could lead to deforestation on Mount Kakavos. They also raised concerns about contamination of groundwater and long-term risks associated with mining waste management. Additional concerns included potential impacts on biodiversity and on a regional economy linked to tourism and agriculture.
Legal battles, protests and political tensions continued for years without complete resolution. Despite this, development continued and the mine became a major local employer and a source of public revenue. Economic dependence gradually replaced resistance as conditions changed in the region.
Housing offers linked to worker accommodation
As construction activity intensified, housing markets across northeastern Halkidiki shifted toward occupancy by mining and construction workers. Apartments, guesthouses and rental properties that previously catered to tourists were reported as increasingly occupied by workers tied to the Skouries buildout. The shift contributed to rapid rent inflation that priced out many local residents.
In some cases, longer-term rental offers were reported to emerge for worker accommodation. A hotel in Nea Roda reportedly received an offer of €60,000 per year to house 20 workers. The hotel owner, described as a known opponent of mine expansion, declined the offer.
Union concerns over subcontractor safety and incident scrutiny
Union representatives have raised concerns about labor conditions alongside reported economic benefits from the project. They cited heavy reliance on subcontractors as raising questions about coordination, safety standards and working conditions at construction sites. A tragic incident in May 2025 involved the death of a 63-year-old subcontracted worker.
A separate serious accident in March left a Romanian worker hospitalized in intensive care for weeks after being struck during construction operations. The Professional Union of Underground Miners of the Cassandra Mines said the deceased worker had been working 10-hour shifts, six days a week, for extended periods. Union representatives also criticized coordination between subcontractors when overlapping activities created unsafe working environments.
The union stated it considered it unacceptable for heavy machinery to operate above workers in unsecured areas following one of the incidents. According to union president Giannis Malamas, between 3,200 and 3,400 workers are present daily at the Skouries site, while only 400 to 500 are directly employed by Hellas Gold. He added that safety systems for direct employees are relatively robust compared with conditions among subcontracted workers.
Northeastern Halkidiki’s changing economic dependence on Skouries
Northeastern Halkidiki is described as being at a crossroads where industrial mining activity is increasingly intertwined with one of Greece’s largest gold and copper developments. While environmental impact concerns and labor conditions issues remain part of ongoing discussion, local dynamics have shifted alongside construction activity at Skouries. The mine is reported as becoming central to housing demand patterns and employment-related changes across the region.
