Icelandic Mannvit working for S&B Minerals on project in Greece

Alexander Richter 26 Oct 2009

According to local news, Icelandic engineering group Mannvit, which previously announced a partnership with global EPC firm Technip for the U.S. market, is now working on geothermal exploration on the Greek islands Milos and Komolos for the domestic mining company S&B Minerals.

The project includes a feasibility assessment and seismic work.

According to Sigurdur Larus Hólm, head of geothermal research of Mannvit, there is also a letter of intent for further work by Mannvit should these prospects turn into real projects.

There were three staff members of Mannvit in Greece with measurements together with employees of a sub-contractor. Iceland GeoSurvey, ISOR, was also worked on the project.

According to Mr. Holm, the utilization of geothermal energy was explored on Milos island about 30 years ago, but because of concerns by the local population, the work was stoped after two wells were drilled.

S&B Minerals, which is a big mining company, decided recently to get into the generation of electricity from renewables and entered a contract with Mannvit to work on feasibility studies. After that it was decided to do seismic studies on geothermal resources and estimate if it is feasibily to drill for geothermal reservoirs based on initial work done.

Mannvit has started to work increasingly internationally as of late, with additional projects including its work in Hungary and the rebuilding of a district heating system in Oradea in Romania as well as mapping the geothermal resource that are expected to be found there.

Source: Visir.is (in Icelandic)