Newsroom
A quiet stretch of southern Cyprus is suddenly at the center of a storm. The Pentakomo port project, which plans a 360-meter harbor to support aquaculture, has raised serious concerns among environmental groups, and now the public is paying attention.
BirdLife Cyprus and Friends of the Earth Cyprus have challenged the project in the Administrative Court, questioning whether it was approved fairly and transparently. The stakes are high: investors from the U.S., Israel, and other countries are reportedly eyeing the area for a high-tech development, potentially turning the coastline into a mini tech park, raising fears about irreversible damage to one of the island’s last untouched shores.
The project’s critics point to multiple red flags:
- Construction numbers don’t add up: The environmental review listed 24,000 cubic meters of artificial boulders, but government tender documents call for more than 82,000 cubic meters, more than triple the original estimate.
- Endangered wildlife at risk: The area is home to the Mediterranean monk seal, and no detailed ecological assessment has been done.
- Natura 2000 protections delayed: The nearby Agios Georgios Alamanou site still lacks official European protection, leaving it vulnerable.
- Planning rules ignored?: Authorities required minimal, consolidated warehouses to protect the scenic cliffs, but tender plans show eight separate buildings, raising serious questions about compliance.
“From massive material mismatches to possible violations of planning conditions, citizens have the right to know what’s really happening and demand transparency,” said Melpo Apostolidou, director of BirdLife Cyprus.
With international investors circling and the case still before the courts, the Pentakomo project has become a flashpoint in Cyprus for the delicate balance between economic growth and environmental protection, an issue locals say will define the future of their coastline.
