– Warm thanks to Eleni I. Fountoulaki and the reportorial site Zarpa.gr –
The Small Hydroelectric Power Plant (SHPP ) of Agia is in the process of being included in the European Industrial Heritage Route, as announced in a conversation with ZARPA RADIO 89.6 by the Director of the Regional Development Company of Crete, Maria Petrantonaki – Kalogeri, who has taken over the management of Small Hydroelectric Power Plant (SHPP) of Agia in Chania.
The Small Hydroelectric Power Plant was inaugurated in 1929 by the Prime Minister of Greece, Eleftherios Venizelos.
Nowadays, the former Power Plant is an example of industrial archaeology, part of the modern history of the city and the collective memory of the society of Chania. The presence of such a pioneering project has historical, technological, social, architectural as well as scientific value today.
“It is called a Small Hydroelectric Power Plant, but it is not “small” at all since it includes many activities, as Ms. Petrantonaki pointed out, noting that “what we are now preparing with museologist Myrto Kontomitaki is to include the SHPP Agia in the European Industrial Heritage Route – which the Museum of Typography is already included here in Chania.
The initiative was emphasized by the Director of the Historical Archive of PPC Ms Maria Mavroidis and we are trying with Ms. Kontomitaki to include it. This will result in great visibility and networking for the former Power Plant with other industrial monuments and regions of Europe. Besides, SHPP is an industrial building, a “machine building” that has a lot to show us”.
In more detail, speaking about the activities of SHPP, she stated:
“During winter we run educational programs for children of various ages by the museum educator Marilena Pantelaki. We have school visits every day. This is the fourth year of operation of former SHPP and this year we extended our activities to the artificial lake of Agia with educational programs on biodiversity, flora and fauna of the area. Moreover, STEM educational programs with Lego have come in fruition funding by the Region of Crete.
For second consecutive year, we run a summer school for children which was extemely successful.
In 2025, we began and will continue in 2026 the digitization of the SHPP, an initiative of Ms. Pantelaki. Anyone who visits the space can download an application from their mobile phone and take a tour through Virtual Reality in the SHPP.
For the SHPP, “sensory backpacks” have been designed for children with neurodiversity, that can be used in all educational programs, as well as during individual tours. Easy-to-use backpacks, including objects ( such as flashlight, headphones, booklet, etc.), with the aim of offering fun and interactive sensory resources, since they are designed to support and improve the experience of children with additional sensory needs.
Read the article in Greek language:
https://www.zarpanews.gr/chania-quot-rota-quot-gia-tin-eyropaiki-diadromi-viomichanikis-klironomias-vazei-o-mikros-ydroilektrikos-stathmos-agyias-photos/?fbclid=IwY2xjawPMZAZleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeV8LNw2lmpdXIFzpucKyoIX0BIwmzIsm0iKnLf5kXIcm_m9wXXwXDOFgXqoI_aem_ZQiw1EoHpwD9AWMDRMVbRA
