Fire at Koutsoventis landfill in northern Cyprus prompts environmental concerns

A fire broke out on Wednesday at the 900,000 square meter landfill in Koutsoventis, which serves eight municipalities. Yilmaz Altunterim, the director of the environmental department, reported that the fire is under control but continues to smolder due to gases from organic waste. While perimeter safety measures are in place, full extinguishment remains pending. The site currently operates under primitive conditions, and authorities are seeking technical assistance from Turkey to modernize the facility. Proposals include installing biogas power generation units and a 15 MW solar farm to ensure economic viability. However, project implementation has stalled due to financial disagreements, prompting Minister Fikri Ataoglu to initiate new negotiations to resolve the deadlock.