Filenews 16 October 2022
By Socrates Ioakim
The Board of Directors of the Ports Authority awarded, according to cross-referenced information in the column, the offer of the designer who will "run" the procedures for the project concerning the extension of the port of Latchi, in the apartment of Polis Chrysochous.
As we are informed, a total of three bids were examined and awarded to the successful bidder for the amount of €1.5 million. with official announcements to be placed early next week.
The extension of the port of Latchi, in the Old Warehouses of the Cyprus Ports Authority, is one of the most important infrastructure projects ever undertaken in the Chrysochous district. The major project is being launched by the Ports Authority with an expenditure of €53.5 million. and is expected to upgrade Polis Chrysochous and the tourist product of the region.
The intention of the Ministry of Transport and the Ports Authority, as we are informed, is to operate customs and other infrastructure for attracting cruise ships.
The expansion includes another 350 elimination sites, which will triple the existing port basin of the port of Latchi and make it the first green port in Cyprus.
In detail, the project will include:
- Extension of the port basin and the jetties
- Creation of infrastructure for new berths
- Maritime work
- New platforms and breakwaters
This is a project of significant strategic economic and social importance for the development of the area, with multiple benefits for the local community and our country in general.
The construction works, based on the timetable set, will start in about a year, while the project is estimated to be completed before the end of 2025.
New growth of €9.5 million in Agios Athanasios
Open for consultation until November 9, 2022 is the environmental impact study for a project related to the construction and operation of a seven-storey office development, owned by the company BH High Cross Ltd, in the Municipality of Agios Athanasios, in the Limassol district, with a total value of €9.5 million. The aim of the project, as stated in the study submitted to the environmental authority, is the construction and operation of a modern, functional and comfortable building, with the aim of creating office space for rent or sale to interested companies.
The total buildable area of the project will amount to 4,069 sq. m. while the coverage to 679 sq. m. The level of the roof of the top floor will be 30.15 meters and the height of the roof of the stairwell 32.80 meters from the ground surface. The project will include a total of 79 parking spaces, five of which will be for people with disabilities, while public green spaces of 499 sq. m. and private green spaces of 136 sq. m. will be created.
The proposed building will include a semi-basement parking area, where a car lifting system will be installed on the upper level, in order to double the parking space for cars in each space. Also, an underground space will be built, containing warehouses, an electromechanical equipment room, a meter room and a water storage tank.
On the ground floor of the building there will be a lobby and meeting rooms, while the six upper levels will house offices. Photovoltaic (PV) panels for the production of electricity from Renewable Energy Sources (RES) will be installed on the roof of the building.
The development plot has a total area of 3,650 square meters and abuts to the north with the Limassol-Nicosia Motorway and the Agios Athanasios roundabout, while to the east with Agios Athanasios Avenue.
What will be allowed for single-use plastics
Six clarifications in relation to single-use plastics were given this week by the Department of Environment of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment. In particular, it stated the following:
- The placement of the mandatory marking on the items required by the European Directive and national legislation will be allowed with a sticker until the end of this year.
- From 1/1/2023, all products that fall under the provisions of the legislation for the placement of the marking, must bear the marking printed or engraved, depending on the specifications, as they result from the European Regulation 2020/2151 / EU
- The obligation to label the cups category concerns only beverage cups and not cups in which food is placed.
- Only beverage containers and cups made of expanded polystyrene are prohibited. All other plastic beverage containers with the required marking, as well as plastic cups, may be disposed of.
- For food containers, those consisting exclusively of expanded polystyrene and which usually contain food intended for immediate consumption (individual portion) from the receptacle, without further preparation (e.g. cooking, boiling or heating) are prohibited.
- It is not prohibited to dispose of food containers made of expanded polystyrene, in which frozen food that needs further preparation (e.g. raw meat, fish, etc.) is placed, and food containers that are not single-use, but multi-purpose, such as family pack size.
Modernization of the Government's online presence
The contract for the modernization of the online presence of the Republic of Cyprus was signed on Tuesday, through the redesign of state websites, which will now be accessible through the new digital portal of the state, gov.cy.
The project aims on the one hand to establish a modern and unified image for all state services and primarily to improve the experience of citizens when browsing public websites. The project was awarded after a tendering process by the Department of Information Technology Services of the Deputy Ministry to EY Cyprus, at a cost of €1.1 million, while its implementation will be completed in two phases, with the first 65 websites to be developed in 2023. Specifically, the design or redesign of more than 250 websites is foreseen, with modern and user-friendly aesthetics, design and functional approach and interactive applications, based on the highest standards of design, usability, accessibility and security.
The changes on Makarios Avenue
As of Thursday, October 20, the temporary traffic arrangements that have been in force since last December for the "Redevelopment of the Makarios - Stasikratous - Evagorou Commercial Triangle" are terminated and the initial planning of the project comes into force, the Nicosia Municipality announced. The two lanes on Makarios Avenue (from its junction with Spyrou Kyprianou and Digeni Akrita Avenues, to its junction with Evagorou Avenue) and Anastasiou Leventis Street, will be converted into bus lanes for bus traffic in both directions of traffic, it is clarified. It is also noted that entry to motor vehicles, including two- and three-wheelers, will be prohibited, except for exceptions (vehicles belonging to legal users of licensed parking areas, emergency vehicles, utility vehicles, taxis, bicycles and scooters, catering vehicles, vehicles for the collection of waste and recycling materials).
New voluntary exit scheme at Alpha Bank
Alpha Bank Cyprus announced a new voluntary exit plan for its employees this week. The goal is to shed total of 80 people, while another 45 people are expected to staff Cerberus, which bought and manages Alpha Bank's "red" loans, with secondment status. The scheme provides for a maximum tax-free compensation of €200,000 and a minimum ex gratia compensation of €50,000. It is planned to continue to provide medical coverage through the ETYK health fund with mutual contributions for the next two years from the date of retirement or until the official reaches the age of 65. The last date for employees who decide to press the exit button was set for October 21, 2022. It should be recalled that in October 2020, another 220 employees of Alpha Bank, which has 17 branches in Cyprus, left through a voluntary exit plan.
