The MPs asked the government agencies and the company that submitted the proposal to submit various documents to study the matter.
Problems and concerns were raised by the members of the Parliamentary Committee on the Environment, regarding the proposed construction and operation of a 180MW photovoltaic park with an area of 3.5 sq.km. on state-owned gravel and Turkish Cypriot land in the administrative boundaries of the communities of the Nicosia province of Lythrodonda, Analionta, Katalionda and Mathiatis, as well as for possible environmental impacts. The MPs asked the state agencies and the company that submitted the proposal to submit various documents to study the issue.
The issue, the discussion of which began on Wednesday, was registered ex officio after a proposal by AKEL MPs, Nikos Kettiros, Andreas Kavkalias and Marina Nikolaou. Representatives of government departments, environmental organizations and community residents opposed the specific project, citing major environmental damage, while the Department of the Environment said it was reviewing the completeness of the study submitted for the proposed project.
Speaking during the Committee's session, DISY Member of Parliament, Savia Orfanidou, was in favor of major developments concerning renewable energy sources (RES), guided by the well-intentioned interest of people, nature and the environment. “Is the photovoltaic park part of the spatial planning of 2021? Have permits been issued for the park? Is the construction company satisfied with the compensatory measures it proposed?”, he asked.
Speaking after the end of the session and referring to the concerns and concerns expressed during the session, Mrs. Orfanidou called on the Government to consider the issue in the context of the regulations and the mandate announced by the Minister of the Interior for the spatial planning of RES . “There are specific criteria and conditions as to whether this investment”, he added.
DISY Member of Parliament, Rita Superman, wondered what the purpose of the project is and who it will benefit.
The AKEL MP, Marina Nikolaou, noted that “we should be pioneers in RES, but in a way that does not cause damage to the environment”. We want to know if there will be environmental damage, he said.
AKEL Member of Parliament, Andreas Kavkalias, spoke about many consequences of wrong decisions of the state in the previous period. “Where is the issue of the photovoltaic park at the moment”, he asked.
AKEL Member of Parliament, Nikos Kettiros, in turn asked how the company ended up in this area and whether it owns private land there. “What is the company's expertise?”, he added. Furthermore, he stated that, in a communication he had with the Turkish Cypriot Property Management Service, he was informed that no plot of land has been granted to the company, adding that no such decision has been made.
Speaking after the end of the Commission's session, Mr. Kettiros emphasized that “there is still a shadow as to whether there was a change and rearrangement in the location of renewable energy sources and a change of maps based on the decision of the Council of Ministers in order to serve the company's plans ».
The company submitted its application in 2019 and the decision to change the designs was also made in 2024, he noted. “We didn't get a clear answer as to whether gravel or Turkish Cypriot land has been leased to this company,” he said.
DIKO Member of Parliament, Christos Orfanidis, asked whether the flora and fauna of the area is being affected.
DIKO Member of Parliament, Chrysanthos Savvidis stated that “as a party we are in favor of RES”, clarifying that “we must not destroy a fertile area”.
The Member of Parliament of ELAM, Linos Papagiannis, indicated that there must be comprehensive planning in these matters.
The independent Member of Parliament, Alexandra Attalidou, questioned whether and under what conditions the company has been given pieces of state and municipal land. As he said, “in Cyprus there is an El Dorado in energy, those who have access to it use agricultural land”. He also submitted questions about the position of the Department of Antiquities, as well as about the history of the company.
The Environment Commissioner, Antonia Theodosiou, emphasized that the area is part of areas of high natural and agricultural value. Noting that the area is characterized by “excellent natural beauty”, he added that it adjoins an area belonging to the Natura network.
Andreas Petsas, lawyer and representative of the company, stated that more than 50% of the area included in the proposed project is suitable for development. This land, as he said, was designated in June 2024 as an area for RES.
There are terms and conditions for the measures that must be taken, such as the proximity to an archaeological site, he explained, emphasizing that 1400 pine trees will be cut down, which is why there will be compensatory measures. “Our applications are under consideration,” he added, with AKEL MP Nikos Kettiros noting that he disputes Mr. Petsas' claim.
For his part, the Deputy Director of the Department of Environment, Dr. Theodoulos Mesimeris, said that no permission has been given. As he said, a study was submitted to the Department of the Environment, pointing out that the Department is examining the completeness of the study and the possibility of obtaining a proper assessment. “For the issuance of an opinion, the concerns that have been expressed must also be taken seriously,” he underlined.
“It seems that some conditions are met”, said Mr. Mesimeris. Answering a question from AKEL Member of Parliament, Andreas Kavkalia, he explained that the mandate of the Ministry of the Interior for the siting of renewable energy sources determines the conditions that must be met at the licensing stage.
Christos Gogakis, on behalf of the Ministry of Energy, stated that the goal is to ensure that licenses are issued within a year. 64% of Cypriot land is prohibited for RES, through the opinion that has been issued on the zoning policy of RES, he noted that 6% of the land is an area in which infrastructure for RES can be built, while the remaining 30% is included in the spatial policy.
Kyprianos Elissaiu, on behalf of the Department of Cadastre and Geometry, said that they have been informed by the Department of the Environment about the areas where RES development is prohibited and the areas where it can be allowed under conditions.
A spokesperson for the Game Agency said that issues with the submitted application need to be addressed. He also expressed his concerns about the project, noting that it is very large in area, is located in a natural area and falls within a habitat. “These concerns will be considered at the evaluation stage.”
The representative of the Audit Service stated that the Service has not yet examined anything related to the submitted application.
Charalambos Dionysiou, on behalf of the Department of Antiquities, underlined that, since antiquities were found in the area, it should be excluded the possibility of creating a photovoltaic park there.
Georgia Christoforou, on behalf of the Lythrodontas Community Council, said that “we are not against developments, as long as the natural beauty is not affected”.
The representative of the Machaira community complex stated that “we have been worried since 2021, when the intention of the project came to our attention”. No one took into account the reactions of the communities, he said, adding that “we sent letters to Ministers and Parliament about possible environmental problems”.
The project, he continued, would affect the climate of the area. “We want the state land to be used for public purposes,” he stressed.
The representative of the Mathiatis Community Council said that there was no consultation. “We are in favor of development, but not in the pine trees,” he said.
A representative of the Federation of Environmental Organizations, said that the Federation has sent a letter to the Minister of Agriculture about the project. “Gravel land should be used sparingly. If we remove the various pieces of land that are present in the proposed project, then there will be zero area for installation of photovoltaics”, he underlined.
The representative of the Cyprus Environmental Movement noted that the area is unsuitable for a photovoltaic park, adding that there are 3,000 trees.
The representative of the Hunting Federation said that “what we are doing is destructive to the environment”, referring to irreversible environmental disaster.
The representative of PEK stated that “we want the law to be respected”, while the representative of EKA asked that arable land not be used for RES.
The local residents' representative said the assessment of the study did not meet the condition of public consultation and “our questions were not answered”. A second amended study was submitted, he added.
The Department of Environment does not comply with the basic provisions of the legislation for the evaluation of studies, he said. At the same time, he asked the Audit Service to study all the correspondence regarding the rental of this land by the company.
Also, he said the company withheld part of a letter from the Forest Department opposing the project. The company, he said, claims it will produce 300 gigawatt hours a year, collecting €60 million a year, instead of €20 million according to EAC prices. “Photovoltaics must go on roofs, in the built environment,” he pointed out.
In response to the representative of the residents of the area, Andreas Petsas, he said that there is a letter from the Ministry of Agriculture from 2021 stating that the area is not of particular agricultural interest.
The MPs requested that this letter be submitted, as well as all the documents related to the proposed project.
