A final agreement on moving the oil-storage facilities from Larnaca’s beachfront, including binding timeframes and penalties for non-compliance, will be signed by the end of the year, Larnaca mayor Andreas Vyras said on Wednesday.
In a statement, Vyras said the issue of moving the oil and gas storage facilities was discussed at a meeting of the City and District Development Committee on Monday where he told members that that oil companies that maintain facilities in Larnaca were given a one-month deadline on November 10 to submit their final views on moving to Vassiliko.
“By the end of the year a deal must be signed, which will have legal and binding power for the government, the municipalities involved and the companies, which must commit to specific and realistic timeframes, as well as penalties for non-compliance,” he said in a statement.
To date, the statement added, no positive decision over compensation by the oil companies if they do not comply with a government decree to remove the storage facilities.
With regard to the issue of the Larnaca port and marina, Vyras “informed the committee that, according to a letter by the transport minister, delays are being seen because the competent government departments have not yet completed legally-prescribed checks”.
“The minister has given assurances that these issues will be resolved by mid-December, at which point the procedure will resume,” the statement said.
“However, due to this delay, the selection of the winning bidder is expected to be completed within in the first quarter of 2018.”
On the issue of creating university schools in Larnaca, the mayor said the University of Cyprus’ Maritime Science school will be based in Larnaca.
“As of September 2018, about 18 post-graduate students will commence studies in this field, in temporary accommodation to be designated by the Larnaca municipality,” he told the committee.
“Space will be found to temporarily house the students for three to four years, until construction of the school’s premises is finished.”
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