83 large businesses in Cyprus are operating without the necessary certificates, it was reported to the Parliamentary Environment Committee, which discussed the Industrial Emissions (Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control) (Amendment) Law of 2025, article by article.
Speaking after the Committee meeting, AKEL MP Nikos Kettiros stated that the Department of Environment requested a further extension until December 31, 2029, of the exceptional ability of the competent authority to grant or renew industrial emissions permits in the specific case of facilities that do not hold a valid and current urban planning permit and/or building permit and/or approval certificate.
Mr. Kettiros said that these are 83 large facilities, which do not hold the required certificates. He then said that the request for an extension “is not only unacceptable, it is also provocative towards people who are being hunted by the EOA, the Urban Planning Department, the local authorities, because they have been forced to commit some minor illegalities within their plots”. “For them there is the law, for them they filter the gnat, but for large companies they swallow the camel and whatever else they can get their hands on”, he said.
Responding to a question, Mr. Kettiros explained that these are large enterprises, which include - among others - the EAC as well as ceramic and cement industries, adding that "the EAC does not have some of the required permits in Vasiliko."
Responding to another question, the AKEL MP noted that the Environment Committee has received assurances that there are no risks, adding that the extension was requested so that large businesses can pass industrial emissions controls.
As he explained, the businesses followed incorrect procedures, making expansions that they should not have done. "Then they had to secure the permits, which have problems. Perhaps demolitions will have to be carried out in some cases," he concluded.
Source: KYPE
