During the six-year period 2016 2022, the company received 48 tyres from authorised tyre collection and management groups.000 tonnes i.e. about 4,500,000 tyres, which were fully managed, Vasilikos Cement Works and its affiliated company Enerco - Energy Recovery Ltd said in a statement, responding to inaccuracies, it said, in press reports. "Reactions justified... big problem of coordination"[/URL][/B]
[*]"Unlicensed site... investigation begins immediately," company says of Mari fire[/URL][/B]
[*]Soil tests for particles from the Mari fire. "The winds carried the smog high and there was no risk to human health."
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According to the company, the 2016 Audit Service report was fully used and utilized, resulting in the Vasilikos Cement Factory being able to manage about 9-11.000 tons of tires per year (over 770,000 tires), despite the difficult conditions due to the pandemic. Given that the annual consumption of tyres in Cyprus, according to the company, is estimated at around 8,000 tonnes, the company rejects the claims of the Audit Office that the management is not timely, appropriate and correct.
In response to why there were accumulated piles of tyres at the site, the company said that apart from the need for some storage period, in 2016-2021 the state, the Ministry of Agriculture and other bodies asked the company to collect and manage an additional 10,450 tonnes of tyres, which were scattered near residential areas across Cyprus. This was historical waste, in addition to the company's daily collection, and was undertaken by the company, at the urging of the Department of Environment and the Minister of Agriculture, as part of clean-up campaigns.
Regarding the fire that occurred, the company notes that it did not take place on the same site where a fire had occurred previously and the circumstances were very different. Since then, the company, taking into account the recommendations of both the Auditor General and, more importantly, following to the letter the suggestions and requirements of the Environment Department, has undertaken a complete redesign, a new location in a remote area away from houses, crops, etc., and with investments in all the safety measures provided for in the relevant permit, it said in a statement.
Finally, regarding the statement by the Minister of Agriculture Rural Development and Environment that on visiting the site of the fire he found that the separation lanes were too narrow, that he is sure that things did not work properly, and that the strength of the wind should have been anticipated, the company states that we believe it was made under duress and was unfortunate to say the least.
As Vasilikos Cement Works notes, the management of any kind of waste involves some risks. The goal of all waste managers remains prevention, but also, on a second level, readiness for immediate management of an unforeseen incident, with the first consideration being the protection of the health and physical integrity of workers, as well as the immediate limitation of its extension.
It notes that a full investigation of the June 11, 2022 incident in collaboration with the Fire Department, the Department of Environment and other relevant agencies is ongoing and therefore will not make a public statement on the incident until the investigation is complete.
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