Environmental authority approves quarry expansion near Akamas Peninsula

The Environmental Authority has officially approved the expansion of a quarry operation outside the existing Androlikou zone in the Paphos district. The project, submitted by Gennadios Theologou & Sons (Concrete) Ltd and Pullas Tsadiotis Ltd, covers 49,727 square metres and is located just 120 metres from the protected Natura 2000 area of the Akamas Peninsula. The approval was granted with strict environmental conditions despite internal disagreement within the Ad-Hoc Evaluation Committee regarding the site's proximity to protected lands.

The development aims to extract 900,000 cubic metres of limestone, with 720,000 cubic metres identified as recoverable material. The extraction process is planned to utilize 315,000 kilograms of explosives over an operational period of 2.5 to three years. The project is intended to generate approximately 1.512 million tonnes of aggregate products to satisfy local demand. Meanwhile, Environment Commissioner Elias Myrianthous has publicly pledged to protect the Polis Chrysochous region's natural environment, emphasizing a goal to balance local development with conservation efforts.

Future plans include the establishment of a new quarrying zone in Androlikou, with environmental studies for this secondary project pending assessment by the Mines and Quarries Service.