The Environmental Authority issued a green light yesterday for the construction and operation of the new dairy production plant of the company AG Port – Plant Ltd in the community of Lympia.
The project, which is essentially the new major investment of the Pancyprian Cattle Breeders Organization (POA), will be managed by the company Papouis Dairies Ltd. With a processing capacity that will reach 390 cubic meters of milk per day, the new unit is expected to give a new impetus to the production of halloumi, as well as anari.
Until the issuance of the positive opinion by the Department of the Environment, consultations were required in the last one year. During this period, the applicants submitted a total of 14 studies and data, in order to respond to the strong concerns expressed by both state services and residents of the area.
The Environmental Impact Assessment Committee reviewed the project in three sessions, before the Environmental Authority reached its final decision on June 15, 2026.
The main issue that concerned the Environmental Authority and caused the most intense friction was the management of liquid waste, and specifically the stream of increased salinity (brine) resulting from reverse osmosis systems.
The Department of Water Development (WDD) had initially expressed serious reservations about the disposal of the brine in quarries for dust suppression purposes, warning of the risks of pollution of groundwater and surface water. In order to overcome the impasse, a strict management plan was imposed. In particular, the brine will undergo special pre-treatment and sufficient dilution. Its disposal in a licensed quarry for road wetting and dust suppression will be allowed only during the dry months (May to October), while it will be expressly prohibited on rainy days. The maximum amount will not exceed 40 cubic meters per day.
Following a compromise, the WDD agreed to receive 25 cubic meters of diluted liquid waste per day at the Vathia Gonia unit, with a strict maximum conductivity limit of 2500~\mu S/cm.
Part of the waste will be used for the irrigation of fodder plants, in consultation with the Department of Agriculture.
The plant will be connected to the central sewerage network of the Lympia area within 6 months of its completion at the end of 2030.
The unit will produce biogas from anaerobic digestion tanks and will be used as fuel for the dairy's steam boilers. As far as the dehydrated sludge is concerned, it will be provided free of charge to farmers in the area as a natural soil improver.
After tertiary treatment, the recovered water will be reused for the needs of the plant, it will be given to the members of the POA, but also to the Department of Forests for the irrigation of state forests.
The construction of the factory on an area of 128,700 sq.m. caused the concerns of the Municipality of South Nicosia - Dali, as well as neighbours, who raised issues of nuisance, noise pollution, odours and traffic congestion.
The Environmental Authority imposed strict terms and conditions for the licensing of the project.
1. All units that produce odours, such as the flotation unit and the sludge tanks, will be of a closed type and the air will be compulsorily led to a special deodorization biofilter.
2. To deal with noise, heavy machinery will be placed in soundproofed areas in the northeast, away from individual dwellings. At the same time, a strong recommendation was made that milk and waste tankers completely avoid the road network of the residential area of Lympia.
3. Due to the proximity to the State Forest, it is necessary to create a fire strip on the northern border with the planting of two rows of agricultural trees and double ploughing of the soil every year.
