Panoi to Gyali Island

David Taber

You are exactly right — this is Gyali / Yali / Gialos Island, between Kos and Nisyros, and it is Greece’s largest and most important pumice deposit, one of the biggest in the world. Here is exactly what happens there, what they ship out, and its value to Greece: ✅ What they do & what is shipped • They mine high-grade volcanic pumice (plus some perlite) in huge open pits, no explosives — just cutting, crushing, screening into graded sizes. • The “kit/equipment” you see: heavy excavators, crushers, conveyors, and large ship-loading systems directly from the island — that’s why it looks like a major industrial site. • Production: ~750,000–1 million tons/year, reserves ~100 million tons — enough until well past 2100. • Most is exported worldwide (Europe, USA, Middle East, North Africa, Asia) on bulk carriers; some stays in Greece. ✅ What it’s used for • Construction: lightweight concrete, thermal/sound insulation blocks, mortars, plasters, roof insulation, road sub-bases, embankments, port works. • Agriculture: soil conditioner, drainage, growing medium for greenhouses & hydroponics. • Industry: filtration, cosmetics, abrasives, horticulture, lightweight fillers. • It is valued because it is light, porous, fire-resistant, insulating, chemically inert, and naturally abundant here — far better quality than most global sources. ✅ Economic value to Greece • Strategic mineral asset: Greece is a top global exporter of pumice, almost entirely from Gyali. • Runs by LAVA Mining (member of Heracles Group / Laf