The large number of infrastructures, facilities and industrial and other units that have been created and are operating in Vasilikos or are planned to be installed in the wider area is a cause for concern. This is because in the event of a possible crisis, the economy or even the security of the country may be affected.
In the wider area of Vasilikos, which is being transformed into an Energy Center of Cyprus, due to its location, there are the following developments:
>> "Evangelos Florakis" Naval Base
>> Power Energy Cyprus (PEC).
>> Vassiliko Power Station of the Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC).
>> Port of Archirodon.
>> Petrolina (Holdings) Public Ltd. Liquid Fuel Terminal.
>> Pier of the company M.S. (SKYRA) VASSAS Ltd.
>> VTTV Liquid Fuel Storage Terminal.
>> VTTV Jetty.
>> Port of Vasiliko.
>> Vassiliko Cement Works.
>> Ecofuel Cyprus facilities (northwest of the port of Vasilikos).
>> Sulphuric acid storage facilities (near the land edge of the VTTV pier).
>> Liquid Fuel Storage Terminal of the company Hellenic Petroleum Cyprus in Industrial Block 15.
>> Facilities of the company Economides Scrap Metal (north of the industrial area 15).
>> Feed warehouses.
The Spatial Development Plan of the Vassiliko area was completed in January 2017 and was revised due to the detection of natural gas deposits, as well as the plans of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works and the Cyprus Ports Authority for the upgrade/expansion of the port of Vasiliko. Based on the strategic study of the revised spatial plan, the following developments and proposals for the adoption of urban zones for specialized uses are included:
>> Existing facilities of the EAC Vasilikos Power Plant, Vasilikos Cement Works, Vasilikos Port, VTTV Ltd and Petrolina.
>> Zone for the creation of the onshore Liquefied Natural Gas Plant (LNG), which will consist of:
A. LNG Phase 1 – space for the development of up to three natural gas liquefaction units (LNG trains), as well as space for Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) storage facilities, other ancillary facilities and the required accesses.
B. LNG Phase 2 – space for the development of up to two natural gas liquefaction plants, as well as space for LNG storage facilities and other ancillary facilities (LNG Phase 2 is only necessary in case of gas quantities of more than 20 – 25 TCF).
C. Pier for the onshore SYFA, designed for multiple uses: Import/export of LNG and possibly for the import of fuel oil or the import/export of petroleum products.
>> Zone for the creation of storage facilities for petroleum products and industries related to natural gas (petrochemical industry), which will consist of:
1. Storage of petroleum products Phase 1 – including the VTTV Ltd and Petrolina facilities
2. Storage of petroleum products Phase 2.
3. Storage of LPG in tanks protected on an embankment in the northern part of the zone.
>> Industries and installations related to natural gas, such as methanol production and natural gas compression facilities.
>> Protection zone, 500m wide. around the zones for the land SYFA and 400m. around the zones for petroleum storage facilities and gas-related industries.
>> Future quarrying zone for the Vasilikos Cement Plant.
>> Zones for offices and laboratories.
The Development Plan also includes provisions for the construction of new berths for the import and export of products:
A. Pier and mooring positions for the onshore SYFA.
B. Exclusive mooring position for LPG.
C. Mooring position for asphalt carriers (possibly in combination with the mooring position for LPG).
D. New mooring position with extension of the VTTV pier, in order to increase the import of petroleum products.
EAC's intention to operate a photovoltaic park in Mari
The above are described in the study prepared on behalf of the Electricity Authority, in the context of its intention to operate a photovoltaic park with a capacity of 17.7 MW in the Mari area. The park will be interconnected with the EAC network for the integration of production into the Authority's balance sheet. The photovoltaic park will consist of 26,450 photovoltaic panels with a power of 670W each. The park will occupy an area of 264,956 sq.m., with the largest piece of land to be used to have an area of 214,274 sq.m.
The photovoltaic panels will be mounted on arrays. The area will be fully fenced and the length of the fence will be 2.5 kilometers. Security cameras have been installed in the fencing. In addition, motion and fire/heat detectors will be installed inside the substations and enclosed spaces, communication and power supply equipment for security systems and a supervisory system for control, data collection and management of the SCADA distribution network.
In the study, the EAC explains that the construction and operation of photovoltaic parks entails an increase in the percentage of electricity production from RES in Cyprus, thus contributing to the harmonization with the requirements of the European Directives and the Kyoto Treaty (energy production 23% from RES by 2030).
