Categories: Greece PR
      Date: Oct  1, 2009
     Title: Crete land permission

On September 29 NUR-MOH HELIOTHERMAL, the subsidiary jointly held by Nur Energie Ltd. and Motor Oil (Hellas), entered into an agreement with the Municipality of Lefki (Lassithi County, Crete) on a 20-year lease over 100 hectares of municipal land in order to build, own, and operate a Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) plant. This agreement was preceded by a public auction, in which NUR-MOH HELIOTHERMAL outbid the Greek subsidiary of Abengoa Solar. The “Atherinolakkos” site acquisition thus accomplished was the key prerequisite to the Production License subsequently expected to be issued by the Greek Regulatory Authority for Energy in the near term. The site advantages, the strong support by the local community and the choice of Brightsource Energy, the leading CSP developer in the world, as the technology provider, set the stage for a fast-track and successful project completion.

Mr. Kevin Sara, Managing Director of Nur, said that “Nur Energie is pleased to have reached this critical milestone after a year’s worth of research and development in Greece. The synergy created by the joint venture with such an experienced and competent partner is already bearing fruit.  We look forward to working with Motor Oil (Hellas) to bring some of the most advanced CSP technologies in the world to the Greek market”.

Ms. Natassa Kassapaki, Strategic Planning Manager of Motor Oil (Hellas), added that “this partnership is a different facet of the long-lasting effort towards sustainable development, as well as the entrepreneurial attitude that Motor Oil (Hellas) has shown since its foundation. The technology to be used will enable the development of the leading CSP project in Europe.”

Nur Energie Ltd. is a solar development company active in Greece, France, Italy and Tunisia.  Nur Energie has a multi-technology platform (CSP, Concentrated PV and PV), and deploys the technologies most suited for particular sites and geographies.  Nur Energie in based in the UK, and has subsidiaries in France and Italy, and joint ventures in Greece and Tunisia.

Motor Oil (Hellas) has been a leader in the oil and energy market in Greece for decades. Its Refinery with its ancillary plants and offsite facilities forms the largest privately held industrial complex in Greece and is considered as one of the most advanced refineries in Europe. It is active in the Greek electricity market through its participation in the company Korinthos Power for the construction of a 400MW CCGT power plant within the refinery facilities. Motor Oil is listed on the Athens Stock Exchange (FTSE/ATHEX INTERNATIONAL).

BrightSource Energy, Inc. provides clean, reliable and low cost solar energy for utility and industrial companies worldwide. The BrightSource Energy team combines nearly three decades of experience designing, building and operating the world’s largest solar energy plants with world-class project development capabilities. BrightSource Energy’s solar plants are designed to minimize their impact on the environment and help customers reduce their dependence on fossil fuels. Headquartered in Oakland, Calif., BrightSource Energy is a privately held company with operations in the United States and Israel.