The removal of the facilities is estimated to last for more than two years and cost at least €200,000. The project has three phases, the removal of oil storage tanks and pipes, the cleaning of the subsoil and the dismantling of the facilities used by private companies.
In his statements, Lakkotrypis described the day as “historic” for Larnaca and for residents of the area who had long-demanded the removal of the refineries with the decommissioning of the state fuel storage company (Ketap).
“This was a commitment of President Nicos Anastasiades to Larnaca,” Lakkotrypis said.
“We are standing in a place that served Cyprus for many years, but has ended its life cycle,” he added. “Today is a very important day and is the start of a new beginning to release the area for tourism development.”
Lakkotrypis said the dismantling of storage terminals would take three or four months, which would be followed by an environmental assessment to be submitted to the environment department within 12 months. It would then take around six months to design a plan for rehabilitation of the site.
“To complete the recovery will take some time but we have begun today and will move forward,” Lakkotrypis said.”
The Larnaca municipality and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) will also take steps to persuade private companies still using parts of the site, to remove their oil and gas installations from the town as quickly as possible, president of the Larnaca CCI Othonas Theodoulou said.
The movement of private enterprises which are using part of the facilities from the Larnaca seafront to Vassilikos will soon have to start, Theodoulou said. “We believe that the movement of oil and gas installations from Larnaca is the end of an era that has come naturally,” the chamber’s president said.
He added that the refineries had played an important role for the city’s economy in the past but it was time to look at the wider interests of the city.
The chamber’s request, he continued “is to begin as soon as possible with the dismantling of liquid fuel and gas installations because as a local community and as a state, we want to give the message that the decisions taken, although delayed, are irreversible.”
Theodoulou expressed his appreciation for the actions of Interior Minister Socratis Hasikos who signed the decree for the start of removal of the installation by January 31.
“The interior minister’s intervention was the reason why we are here today and that we are beginning to dismantle and move the installations from the Larnaca seafront,” he said.
The Larnaca municipal council also welcomed the start of the dismantling but also expressed its disappointment that there were companies which continued to use the facilities despite the ministerial decree.
In a written statement, the council expressed the view that not all necessary actions have been taken resulting in the non-compliance of companies with the decree. They stressed they are determined to end the use of the facilities to ensure the health and safety of all residents but also to upgrade the region.
At a recent meeting, the council decided to consider taking legal action against some of the companies and the imposing of fines.
Source: Cyprus Mail
