Monday, July 17, 2023

ENERGY MINISTER - ONLINE PLATFORM 'DIGITAL ONE STOP SHOP' NOW OPERATIONAL

Filenews 17 July 2023 



The operation of the online digital platform "Digital One Stop Shop" was announced by the Ministry of Energy.

In particular, as mentioned in a relevant announcement, in the context of the implementation of the pre-election announcement of the President of the Republic for the redesign, optimization and digitalization of licensing procedures for Renewable Energy Sources (RES) projects, the ministry announces the operation of the online digital platform "Digital One Stop Shop", which is an action of the Recovery and Resilience Plan "Cyprus – Tomorrow" and concerns, in the first phase, the digital submission of applications for licensing of RES energy production projects.

The second phase, which is expected to be completed before the end of 2024, will enable the full digitalisation of procedures and electronic approvals of applications.

The aim of the new platform, https://bfu.meci.gov.cy, is to facilitate both the information and service of investors and the licensing of projects.

The Ministry of Energy announced, at the end of May, as a first measure to implement the above commitments, the operation of the "Single Contact Service" for the licensing of RES projects, which is part of the Business Facilitation Unit (Business Facilitation) of the Ministry.

The responsibilities of the MSc, as the sole point of contact of the investor throughout the licensing process, include, inter alia, information, coordination, guidance and facilitation of the entire administrative licensing process for energy production projects from RES.

The ongoing technical assistance from the European Commission to simplify the licensing procedures for RES projects is expected to contribute to the Government's effort for a rapid transition to the green economy.

The stage of mapping the existing procedures and legislation between the various competent authorities has already been completed, while the first report is expected soon, which will consist of a series of recommendations to simplify the licensing procedures.

All the above actions will contribute to facilitating investors by reducing bureaucracy and licensing time for RES projects, as well as to achieving the new, more ambitious targets set in the National Energy and Climate Plan under review.

Applicants who have already secured the use of the plot, are invited to submit electronically all the necessary accompanying documents to  https://res.bfu.meci.gov.cy/login, both for new and under examination applications.

For more information, interested parties may contact the competent Officer:

Christos Gogaki (MSc – Licensing of RES Projects), Andrea Araouzou 10, Nicosia, 1421 E. Zip Number: cgogakis@meci.gov.cy / bfuRES@meci.gov.cy

Tel.: +357 22867203