The cleanup of the Larnaca coastline is coming to conclusion.
On Thursday, December 7, the Department of Environmental Protection granted Synergas permission to dismantle the oil storage tanks.
This will free up an area of 18 thousand m2. The boundaries of the site owned by the company are located at a distance of about 15 meters from the coastline. By the way, Synergas plans to build residential and commercial facilities on this land. According to the management, the demolition of oil tanks will begin in the nearest future. The company noted that the dismantling of objects will be carried out up to the ground level, while the foundations and structures below the ground level will not be affected.
Let us remind you that the oil storage tanks occupy a very favorable terrain.
They are located in the coastal zone a few minutes drive from the city center, on the road connecting Larnaca with the suburbs.
The issue of clearing the Larnaca coastline of former oil and gas storage facilities has long been a concern for the local residents, who have repeatedly staged protests against the administration's slowness in removing the oil storage facilities.
The process of eliminating traces of oil in the soil consists of three stages: oxidation, incorporation into macromolecules of organic substances, decomposition. Each stage will last on average 4-5 years, depending on climatic conditions and the composition of a particular oil product. However, experts state that it will not be possible to remove traces of oil from the soil quickly. If underground or open water has been contaminated, the cleanup process will take longer.
Nevertheless, the municipality of Larnaca is full of hope and is already making further plans for the development of this region.
In particular, the mayor of the city has announced the municipality's desire to build a maritime cab pier, a linear park with bicycle paths and even streetcar tracks at this location. In addition, the local authorities plan to develop the vacated land with residential and tourist neighborhoods. The final decision has not been made yet. However, the city hall has already received several proposals from private investors.
Thus, the foreign company Solvin Ltd plans to build two residential towers 67.6 meters high on the vacated land with a total area of more than 27 thousand m2. They will grow next to the Larnaca Marine Club, the volume of investment will exceed 50 million euros. The towers will have 15 floors and will have 114 apartments. Another significant player, EKO Cyprus, which controls a 55 thousand m2 plot of land adjacent to the port of Larnaca, has submitted a master plan to obtain a permit for the construction of residential buildings.
Time will tell whether these plans will be realized.