Filenews 13 April 2023 - by Natasha Christoforou
The Municipality of Larnaka is trying to remove the last thorns in the major development plans of the area of the former refineries in Larnaka, so that the Area Plan can finally be implemented and the issuance of planning permits can begin. The largest of these is the Seveso directive that remains in force, since some LPG companies have not yet removed all gas quantities from their installations. The delay has caused discomfort to city officials, but especially to dozens of landowners whose properties remain trapped.
As the Mayor of Larnaka, Andreas Vyras, told "F", efforts lately are focused on fulfilling the obligations of LPG companies, which have already transferred their activities to the Vasilikos Energy Centre. "The information we have is that Petrolina and EKO have completed the gas free process. The other two companies, Synergas and Intergaz, assured us that in the week after Easter, their own process for removing gas residues will be completed. Once completed, then there will be an inspection by the Department of Labour Inspection and the Seveso Directive will end."
The non-declassification of the area affects properties in a large area, located within the boundaries of Larnaka Municipality, Livadia Municipality and Oroklini Community. Larnaka Municipality, which has its own planning authority, has decided to receive applications, however, it cannot proceed with the issuance of final approvals while Seveso exists. Where the process has completely stalled, however, is in the areas located in Livadia and Oroklini, since the Department of Town Planning does not accept applications.
"It must be understood that in order for the development of the region to proceed, Seveso must be terminated and the Area Plan must be implemented. In the area of Oroklini and Livadia dozens of developments are currently trapped. We are not only talking about large investments, we are also talking about people who have a plot of land and want to build a house for example. It has people who are on rent and have property in the area and cannot exploit it. He has other examples, there is an entrepreneur who wants to make a development of €1.5 million and cannot even submit permits," the mayor of Larnaka pointed out, noting that the key lies with LPG companies.
The initiative to initiate the procedures was also taken by the MP of Larnaka, Andreas Apostolou, who had contact with the Ministers of Labour and Interior, asking for their intervention. "I had a meeting with the Minister of Labour, to whom the Department of Labour Inspection belongs, and the assurance I had is that he will personally take the initiative and that there is already a plan in the TEE to end Seveso. I asked the Minister of the Interior to intervene so that the Department of Town Planning follows the procedure that Larnaka Municipality rightly follows. We want this issue to be finished by May at the latest, since there is huge interest in pending developments."
They can't find room for the lab
The second major thorn for the development of the region is the delay in the relocation of the chemical laboratory of the Cyprus Petroleum Products Storage Company (KETAP), located on the site of the former refinery. The chemical laboratory was part of the third phase of demolition and dismantling of the former refinery's infrastructure, however, it remains on site despite the fact that the process began in 2017. The reason is the government's inability to find a suitable site for the relocation of the chemical laboratory, after the collapse of discussions with EAC.
For this reason, the cleaning procedures of the area, which Larnaka Municipality wants to turn into a student city, got stuck. The obstruction observed delays the procedures for the installation of the first university school in the building of KETAP. The intention is to house the Medical School of the University of Balamand in Lebanon, which will be established in Larnaca in collaboration with UClan University.
The Mayor of Larnaka has already requested a meeting with the Minister of Energy to find a solution to this pending issue. "We will ask him to tell us the plan for the laboratory, because we learn that there are specific options for transporting it. They need to make a final decision so that the area of the former refineries can be cleaned up and the development can go ahead."
The termination of the Seveso Directive, however, will also pave the way for public works planned in the region that are expected to exceed €100 million. In the coming weeks, the study requested by the Department of Marine Works will be ready for the works to be done for the recovery of a large part of the beach. Priority projects include the creation of an embankment and a coastal waterfront (Promenade).
The character of the region, however, will be determined by large private investments that are expected to amount to several billion euros over time. The Petrolina Group, which owns the lion's share of private land in the region, has already officially announced its plans a few days ago. In the 400,000 square meter area he owns, he intends to create the project "Larnaka Land of Tomorrow". This is one of the largest private developments to be undertaken in Cyprus and will include the construction of 8,000 houses, the planting of 20,000 trees and the creation of pedestrian walkways, bicycle paths, shops, offices and restaurants. The project, which focuses on green growth, will bear the stamp of the award-winning Foster + Partners, one of the largest architectural houses in the world.
In addition, three applications for the construction of multi-storey buildings in the area of the Nautical Club are already before Larnaka Municipality.
INTERVENTION
The ball in the state
In order to do what is planned in the area of the former refineries, in addition to the LPG companies that need to speed up their procedures, immediate actions must also be taken by state agencies. It is not possible that the process of moving the chemical laboratory of KETAP, which began in 2017, is still pending and that no solution can be found. It is also inconceivable that everyone should know that it is only a matter of time before the Seveso Directive is terminated and the state jeopardises large investments because the Department of Town Planning refuses to receive applications. The ball is now in the hands of one of the most promising areas of Cyprus for development, in the hands of the state and its services.
