Newsroom
Eighty-three major industrial sites across Cyprus are operating without valid town planning permits, building permits, or approval certificates, key documents required to regulate pollution and safeguard public health, according to AKEL MP Nicos Kettiros. Kettiros raised the issue during a parliamentary committee discussion on proposed changes to the Industrial Emissions Law, calling the situation deeply concerning.
Instead of cracking down, the Environment Department has requested a five-year extension, until December 31, 2029, that would allow these companies to continue operating legally while they scramble to meet the requirements.
“Ordinary citizens are being chased down by authorities over minor violations in their own yards. But for big companies, the rules apparently don’t apply.”
Kettiros didn’t hold back. “This request is not only unacceptable, it’s a slap in the face to everyday people,” he said. “Ordinary citizens are being chased down by authorities over minor violations in their own yards. But for big companies, the rules apparently don’t apply.”
Among the companies reportedly operating without full permits is the Cyprus Electricity Authority (EAC), with specific concerns around its facilities in Vasilikos. Others include major brick and cement manufacturers.
Kettiros said some of these companies failed to follow proper procedures and may now face more serious consequences. “In some cases, they may even have to demolish parts of their facilities to comply,” he added.
Despite the violations, authorities claim there’s no immediate environmental or safety risk. The requested extension, they say, is simply a way to ensure the companies can complete the necessary checks and receive proper certification under industrial emissions regulations.
But critics argue the move creates a dangerous double standard, one for the average citizen and another for the country’s biggest polluters.
