Filenews 9 February 2025 - by Chrysanthos Manoli
Serious problems regarding the initial licensing, construction and imminent operation of PEC's private power plant in Vasilikos are raised through an investigation conducted by the Audit Office, the conclusion of which was sent for comments to the co-competent ministries, some of which appear to have heavy responsibilities for what emerges from the auditors' investigation.
Fileleftheros reports that the reading of the report by senior state officials in the competent ministries has caused great upheaval, as it emerges from the conclusions of the officers of the Audit Office that there was a blatant circumvention of the procedures provided by the legislation for the licensing of such an important project, costing hundreds of millions of euros.
There is currently no official update on the content of the study. We are informed that the preliminary text is already in the ministries involved, from which their comments are expected in the next few days. These comments will obviously be incorporated into the report, which will be published towards the end of February.
Missing permissions...
"F" was refused in his efforts to be informed by recipients of the report about the main points of the Audit Office's investigation, pending the receipt of replies from competent services and the finalization of the text. However, converging information indicates that it has been found that some of the permits that should have been issued for the construction of infrastructure of the power station (which is in the final stages of its completion) have not been issued or -some- have not been issued legally.
"Fileleftheros", as of December 2023, had written that EAC filed a complaint with the Audit Office, with notification to the co-competent ministries (Interior, Energy, Defence, Transport and Port Authority) for violation of legislation in relation to the construction and operation of the PE C station, particularly with regard to EAC's claim that the private company trespassed on a state-owned coastal plot (no. 558), which has been leased to EAC for years, for the purpose of constructing a pumping station for the needs of the PEC station. It was also reported that it was used without legal permits and land from the naval base, in a neighbouring area.
In November 2024, "F" returned with a new report, following a meeting held between the chairman of the board of AHK, George Petrou, with a delegation of the trade unions, with the issue of the disputed piece dominating the discussion.
We pointed out at the time that, despite the warnings of the trade unions and the negative disposition of its senior managers, the management of EAC was under government and other political pressure to consent to the return of the leased land to the State, so that the Government could lease it to PEC.
In the context of the pressure, as we are told, the granting of some compensation to EAC was discussed.
According to the complaint from EAC, "P.E.C. POWERENERGY CYPRUS LTD has carried out actions and/or constructions in the vicinity of Vasilikos power station, which pose very serious risks to its operation, as well as to the general ecosystem of the area."
EAC claimed, in particular, that PEC constructed a seawater pumping station (to cool the generators at its station) on the beach, on the southwestern border with Vasilikos station, in block no. 558, which is leased exclusively to EAC, on the basis of a long-term lease for the purposes of Vasilikos. The above-mentioned construction, according to EAC, constitutes an illegal intervention on blocky. EAC requested that the pumping station be removed, otherwise it will proceed with legal measures. According to EAC, "the required planning permission for the construction of the above-mentioned pumping station, for the installation of a seawater intake pipeline, as well as for the cooling/brine hot water extraction pipeline does not appear to have been secured. It was also claimed that planning permission was not obtained on time for the installation of an onshore seawater supply pipeline, which passes through the land of the Naval Base and ends at the pumping station.
On behalf of PEC, we were informed that the works in Vasilikos proceeded with permits from the competent authorities and that the complaint by EAC was linked to the organization's desire to obstruct the completion and operation of the private station.
