The project, which started in September 2020 and was due to be completed in March 2023, is still ongoing. At the same time, the contracting company cannot say exactly when it will put the plant into operation.
This was stated by the deputy mayor of Lykopetri, Markos Koumis, on Monday 16 September.
Koumis called on the Minister of the Interior, Konstantinos Ioannou, to intervene immediately and help solve the problem of the constant delays in the restoration of the Liopetri riverbed. He pointed out that the Ministry of Town Planning and Housing had granted the contractor a further extension of the project deadline until January 2025.
The Deputy Mayor of Liopetri urged the official to ensure that the project is completed within the agreed timeframe. He stressed that the long delays were having a negative impact on the fishermen in the area, as well as the owners of the two restaurants, who were losing income due to the downtime.
The restoration of the Liopetri riverbed is one of the biggest projects in the Cypriot fishing sector.
The foundation stone for the new Liopetri harbour was laid in 2020 by the then President of Cyprus, Nicos Anastasiades. Speaking at the ceremony, he stressed that the idea to modernise the port came from the late head of the Liopetri village council, Kyriakos Trisokkas. He insisted that the new port could change the life of the whole village. The project was first delayed by the coronavirus pandemic. Then there were constant delays by the contractor. The modernisation of Liopetri port will cost €11 million. The project is part of a long-term government programme to support the fishing industry.
The main aim is to turn the quay into a modern, safe and organised workplace for professional fishermen. The project envisages the creation of
- A bridge linking the two banks of the Liopetri river;
- More than 130 platforms and new berths for the safe mooring of boats and launches;
- A perimeter cycle and pedestrian path;
- A fisheries training centre;
- A multi-purpose office building;
- Fishermen's service area;
- New car parking;
- A café-restaurant;
- A nature observatory;
- A recreation room;
- Kiosk.
The developer also plans to install slips for launching and lifting boats and launches, an outdoor catch sorting area and storage facilities.
Despite the support of the Cypriot government, the project has been plagued by delays. First, the contractor was granted a postponement of the delivery of the new fishing port to March 2023, then to July 2024. The latest relaxations mean that construction will be completed by January 2025. However, given the condition of the marina, it is possible that the contractor will ask for a further delay.