TENX, a Greek Army unit responsible for clearing mines and explosive devices, helped neutralize around 300 World War II-era bombs. During the German occupation, the airport was used as a military base and repeatedly bombed by Allied forces because of its strategic importance.
Around 300 World War II-era bombs, leaked fuel deposits and hazardous materials, including asbestos, have been discovered during an extensive soil remediation project at the site of Athens’ former international airport in the southern suburb of Elliniko, where one of Europe’s largest urban redevelopment projects, The Ellinikon, is underway.
The multimillion-euro cleanup operation, which has been carried out in recent years and is expected to be completed soon, is a prerequisite for major infrastructure works at the site, including new stormwater, water supply and utility networks needed for the redevelopment.
The remediation plan was approved in 2022 by the Decentralized Administration of Attica, with the project undertaken by specialized companies Antipollution and Intergeo.
According to data from developer Lamda Development, around 270 tons of oily material have so far been recovered from the site and transferred to licensed facilities for treatment. The material consists of hydrocarbons from petroleum products such as aviation fuel, diesel and gasoline that had accumulated in the soil or on the surface of the groundwater.
