Filenews 14 March 2022 - by Angelos Nikolaou
The Environmental Authority gave its consent to the action plan of the abandoned mines of Cyprus. The proposed Action Plan for abandoned mines in Cyprus concerns 26 abandoned mines, including the Amiantos mine. According to the Geological Survey Department, the mining activity that occurred in Cyprus mainly during the previous century, combined with the limited environmental knowledge and sensitivity, as well as the absence of a substantial framework for the protection of the environment at the time of the mining activity, resulted in the non-restoration of the mining sites of the deposits, after the depletion of the reserves.
The proposed Plan aims at providing a rational framework for the protection, promotion and restoration of sites of significant geological and mining heritage, aiming at:
• Evaluation of the current situation in the abandoned mines, • Documentation of the need for the rehabilitation of the abandoned mines, • Stabilization / configuration and afforestation of the waste piles and restoration of the mines, • Design and implementation of projects to address problems of pollution of the soil and groundwater and surface waters from acid run-off of mines or installations, • Evaluation of issues related to the ownership status of the sites of the abandoned mines or facilities, • Examination of the possibility of reopening a number of abandoned mines, • Elaboration of proposals for the exploitation of the site, residences and other elements of the mines, • Development of the sites and facilities of the abandoned mines, • Effort to highlight, maintain and protect the areas of the abandoned mines, and, • Monitoring and solving problems related to the abandoned mines in general.
Due to the high degree of degradation of the areas under consideration, the environmental problems they create both by their nature and by their long time of abandonment, and the need to take immediate and decisive action to solve them, the implementation of the main solution was considered as the best proposal and solution. This main solution includes drastic and key changes that contribute positively to the declining quality of the region. The environmental situation can be significantly improved, notably by addressing the problem of acid run-off, establishing guiding actions for the protection of species and habitats of significant ecological value, re-use where possible of properly assessed waste piles, reducing visual disturbance and highlighting areas of natural beauty and geological and mineral heritage.
With the development of technology, today it is possible to recover secondary minerals from dormant and for years abandoned mines. In the case of the environment in the areas of the abandoned mines of mixed sulphides (copper), it is emphasized that the restoration should follow a specific order of priority of restoration, based on the existing problems of the sites. Each abandoned mine should be evaluated in terms of its prospects and possibility of reopening.
Inert mines that may reopen
According to a number of studies and researches that have been carried out in the past, based on the constantly changing and rapid developments in the technology of mining stocks of low and economically unprofitable ore content, it appears that a number of abandoned mines in Cyprus or part of their extent may be reopened by removing the remaining piles of sterile, while restoring the environment. The dormant mines that are presented in the Action Plan as sites that may be reopened in the future are: Sia, Kapedon, Kokkinonerou, Alestou, and Mathiatis S (Stroggylos).
The attempt to reopen a number of dormant mines is estimated to have significant consequences for Cyprus, mainly positive ones. The benefits are mainly found in the industrial sector and an increase in mining activity from the recovery of the mining waste of previous holdings.
However, the reopening of these abandoned sites must be designed on the basis of re-establishing the environment, taking into account the natural habitats of the wider area, as well as the species of flora and fauna that are part of the habitats in each area separately.
Grouping by location
Group 1: Mines of Memi and Alestos (Within administrative boundaries of the communities of Agia Marina Xyliatos, Xyliatos and Agios Georgios of Kafkalou).
Group 2: Mines of Kampia, Peristerkas/ Pytharochoma, Kapedon and Kokkinonero (Analiontas) (Within administrative boundaries of the communities of Kampia and Kapedes).
Group 3: Mines of Mathiatis N, Mathiatis S (Stroggylos) and Sia (Within the administrative boundaries of the communities of Mathiatis, Agia Varvara and Sia).
Group 4: Troulla Mine (Within the administrative boundaries of the municipality of Troulla).
Group 5: Kalavasos Lantaria Mines/ Mavri Sykia, Kalavasou Platies, Kalavasou Mavridia, Kalavasos Petra and Kalavasos/ Mousoulos (Within administrative boundaries of kalavasos, Oras, Asgatas and Vasa Kellaki).
Group 6: Vretsia Mine (Within administrative boundaries of the community of Mylikouri).
Group 7: Mines of Limni, Kynousa (A&B), Ancol Tsiarls and Eylomeni (Within the administrative boundaries of the communities of Kynousa, Pelathousa and Lysos).
Group 8: Agrokipia (A&B), Kokkinogia and Kokkinopezoula Mines and Mitsero Facilities (Within the administrative boundaries of the communities of Agrokipia, Mitsero and Agioi Iliofota).
Group 9: Mines of Hadjipavlou, Kannourou and Kokkinorotsou (Within the administrative boundaries of the communities of Troodos and Kakopetria).
Group 10: Amiantos Mine (Within administrative boundaries of the communities of Kato Amiantos, Pano Platres and Moniatis).
Asbestos Metallion
Began in 1995 and completed in 2035 the restoration works of the amiantos mine
The decision to start the restoration works in the area of the abandoned mine of Amiantos and the decision not to reopen it, was taken by decisions of the Councils of Ministers dated 30/4/1992 and 1/6/1994.
The restoration works of the mine began in the autumn of 1995. The aim of the works was and is the stabilization of the piles of sterile and the reforestation and reforestation of the shaped areas. The planned works for the stabilization of the sterile and the redevelopment of the site, according to the restoration plan, are estimated to be completed by 2025, while the reforestation and regeneration works by 2035.
The restoration of the site also provides for the completion of the design and implementation of the rainwater management works of the mine's central crater, after the recording of extreme weather events and significant problems in the drainage system of the mine's rubble. As a result, the whole project needed to be re-evaluated. In addition, within the framework of the General Plan and in the context of the exploitation of the mines' facilities, any possible uses of the two existing stone buildings, which were formerly the mills of the mine's facilities and are considered as cultural elements of significant value, will be investigated.
To date, more than 50% of the mine's site in need of restoration has been reforested, with the part of the mine visible from the Karvounas – Troodos road network having been fully restored by 2017. Today, within the framework of the restoration procedures of the amiantos mine site, the landscaping and reforestation works of the mine site as scheduled for the coming years continue, as well as the procedures for the hygienic discharge of asbestos-containing waste to the mine, while at the same time the implementation of compensatory works for the community of Amiantos.
