MYTILINEOS

In the last twenty years, approximately 10,000 wildfires occur every year in Greece and burn an average of 534,121 hectares. A forest fire has serious immediate effects and can cause severe damage to agricultural income, human property and infrastructure, has a severe economic cost to suppress it and can result in loss of human life. Over time, it can lead to permanent loss of vegetation, soil erosion and ultimately increased flooding and desertification. The unprecedented fires, which took place at the beginning of August 2021 and caused enormous destruction in their wake, made it imperative, among other things, for the immediate utilization of as many firefighting means and related equipment as possible, in order to stop their unprecedented spread. From the first moment that the magnitude of the disaster began to be seen, MYTILINEOS immediately decided to help in the most appropriate way. In collaboration with the Political Leadership and the Secretariat of Civil Protection, it was decided to try to find and transport firefighting helicopters, which the Fire Service needed more. Specifically, the Company strengthened the air fleet by granting to the Greek State for 60 days 4 high-quality BELL 214BI helicopters of the American company Erickson Inc, fully staffed with flying staff and support staff consisting of more than 20 pilots, engineers and translators, joining forces with the Greek firefighters, proving in practice her sensitivity both for the state and for the needs of her fellow citizens.

This specific initiative had and has a direct impact on all of Greece, given the direct devastating effect that fires have on lives and not only on people, with greater emphasis on the regions of Western & Central Greece, the Peloponnese, the North-East Aegean and of course Attica , over which the helicopters operated.

August-October 2021

After tremendous efforts, the most suitable and highest quality BELL 214 BI helicopters of the American company Erickson Inc were found in Australia, fully staffed with flying and support staff consisting of more than 20 pilots, engineers and translators. These helicopters, after being approved at an operational level by the General Secretariat of Civil Protection, are handed over to the Greek State, to contribute dynamically to extinguishing the active fronts in the country.

These helicopters (4 in number) remained 60 days from the date of their arrival, in order to prevent the risk of rekindling or new fires, while the cost of disposal of the helicopters (€3.3 million) was fully taken over by MYTILINEOS.

Whether the fires that consumed the country were the result of long-term deficiencies and problems of the state apparatus, or further evidence of the devastating effects of climate change, or human negligence, is a matter for investigation by expert scientists. MYTILINEOS, as an active and integral cell of Greek society, actively participates in actions with an environmental mark, especially in the reforestation and reconstruction of the areas affected by the catastrophic fires.
 

Collaborating Agencies: Civil Leadership and Civil Protection Secretariat, Erickson Inc.

MYTILINEOS, by donating 4 BELL 214BI helicopters for 2 months, contributed significantly to the efforts of the Fire Service, Civil Protection and volunteers to achieve the maximum extent of extinguishing the fires of Western & Central Greece, the Peloponnese, the North-East Aegean and of course of Attica.

MYTILINEOS, by donating 4 BELL 214BI helicopters for 2 months, contributed significantly to the efforts of the Fire Service, Civil Protection and volunteers to achieve the maximum extent of extinguishing the fires of Western & Central Greece, the Peloponnese, the North-East Aegean and of course of Attica. 155 flight hours and 986 water drops were made. The Company, as an active and integral cell of Greek society, actively participates in actions with an environmental mark, especially in the reforestation and reconstruction of the areas affected by the catastrophic fires.

MYTILINEOS has already become the first Greek company and one of the first industries in Europe and the world to set clear goals for minimizing its carbon footprint, while its entire strategy is governed by the principles of sustainable development.

The Company's commitments become actions and every time the motherland calls, it tries to be useful in a crucial and effective way. In this way, he pledged to remain a helper in every effort to rebuild the burned areas and reforest the burned lands.