The President of the Republic put the two feet of the authorities in one shoe, for speeding up the completion procedures of the projects related to the creation of the Energy Centre in the Vasilikos area, given their strategic importance.
During a relevant meeting held yesterday at the Presidential Palace, which was attended by Minister of Transport, Communications and Works Yannis Karousos, Minister of Energy, Trade and Industry Natasha Pilidou, Minister of Justice and Public Order Stefi Drakou, officials and representatives of communities in the area, the President was briefed on all issues related to the creation of the Energy Centre in the area.
"Through methodical and collective cooperation, the effective implementation of decisions is ensured," President Anastasiades asserted, with the representatives of the communities leaving the meeting satisfied as the discussion focused on the issue of security, something that has been of concern to them over the years.
As announced by the Presidency, at the meeting it was decided, among other things, to prepare a bi-weekly progress report on pending projects[/B], while a project manager will be appointed for each sector to monitor progress and adherence to the timetables.
The team appointed by the Director General of the Ministry of Energy, who will also be the coordinator, will monitor health and safety issues as well as the progress of works such as fencing, fire station installation, fencing and others, and we understand that the community leaders have requested that the team include a representative of the communities.
As we have been duly informed, the team will include a person specialised in environmental issues as well as a person dealing exclusively with security issues.
"In general, we are satisfied. We want the procedures to be accelerated, to hire these people, to set up this particular committee as soon as possible," Kalavasos community leader and chairman of the Coordination Committee of the affected communities Lefteris Fokas told the Cyprus Times, noting that the President's commitments were also requested in writing.
Mr. Fokas reiterated that "since 2014 when we had consented to the establishment of the Energy Centre, for the transportation and installation in the Vasilikos area of oil, gas, LPG and some supporting laboratories for the smooth operation of the Centre. At that time, on the basis of a study, we ruled out the transportation of polluting plants such as ammonia, urea, methanol and bitumen."
Recall that last week's fire in the Vasilikos area, sparked strong reactions, both on the part of local residents and on the part of companies operating in the area, which are prioritizing safety and firefighting issues.
Community representatives attending the meeting thanked President Anastasiades for his personal interest in the concerns raised following the fire at an industry in the area on 11 January.
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