Calls for investigation into political interference at Vasiliko energy project

The Alma movement has officially requested that President Nikos Christodoulides provide clarification regarding recent allegations made by former Energy Minister George Papanastasiou. Papanastasiou, who previously oversaw the energy portfolio under the current government, publicly claimed that political interference and external interests significantly hindered the development of the liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal at Vasiliko, resulting in project delays and increased costs.

Alma emphasizes that because Papanastasiou served as the minister directly responsible for the project, his statements cannot be dismissed as mere general criticism. The movement insists that the President must disclose whether he was aware of such interventions, what specific actions were taken to address them, and how these factors impacted the project's overall trajectory. Furthermore, Alma has called upon the former minister to provide concrete details and submit any evidence he possesses to the relevant authorities.

This demand follows similar calls from the AKEL party, reflecting growing pressure on the government to account for the complications surrounding the critical national energy infrastructure. The authorities are now being pressured to provide transparency regarding the administrative and political decisions that led to the current state of the Vasiliko terminal.