1. Pilot community:
NIKIFOROS DRAMAS
GREECE
Population: 4.279 inhabitants
Area: 243.81 km2
Address: Dimos Nikiforou, Drama
Zip code: 66037
Phone: +25210 90190 & 25213 52300
Fax: +25210 90189
Mayor Georgios I. Kariotis
e-mail: dnikiforosdrama@yahoo.gr
website: www.dimosnikiforou.gr
This is a rural community located within Drama county, very close to the mountain range of
Central Rhodopi and crossed by Nestos river. It consists of five villages: Nikiforos, Andriani, Ano Pixari,
Platanias, Platanovrisi, Ptelea and Ipsili Rachi.
Temples and castles in the region have revealed remarkable evidence of Byzantine monuments,
dating back to 527-565AD, the era of the Byzantine emperor Theodosios II.
The majority of the local population (36.5%) is employed in the primary sector of economy,
particularly in agricultural crops, such as wheat crops, vineyards, olive groves and animal breeding.
21.3% work within the secondary sector of economy, particularly wine-making and food processing and
23.8% in the tertiary sector of economy, mainly trading and public services and administration.
Nikiforos is connected by road with the city of Drama and the prefecture of Xanthi and by train
with the cities of Thessaloniki and Alexandroupolis. Mountaineering is a popular pursuit at a gorge at the
crossing of two local torrents and another attraction is a small zoo near the Platanias plane forest.
Renewable Energy Sources
Now: As a result of the cooperation between a private company and the Municipality of Nikiforos,
a wind farm is under construction near the village of Adriani.
Future: Two more private wind park investments in the village of Platanias are currently in the
process of being approved. Communal land, as well as a municipal building located opposite the
Nikiforos town hall will be made available for photovoltaic installations in order to cover the electricity
needs of the Nikiforos Municipality and the growing of energy crops will also be considered.
Rational Use of Energy
Now:
Future: Saving energy awareness - raising within schools and amongst citizens.