The project to install quay reinforcements in the area of the Liopetri fishing port has been blocked by a decision of the Tender Review Authority. This was announced by Cyprus’s Minister of the Interior, Konstantinos Ioannou, in response to an official inquiry from Parliament.
Construction was supposed to begin in the summer of 2025, when the upgraded road network was opened for use. However, the absence of the necessary reinforcements caused confusion among residents and fishermen.
The core issue: tenders, appeals, and rejected bids
The minister explained that the Tender Board decided to award the contract to SEMESCO COMPANY LIMITED, rejecting the bid submitted by SPACIALOGIC CONSTRUCTION CY LTD due to non-compliance with tender requirements. However, the rejected company filed an appeal with the competent oversight body. Until a decision is issued, the contract cannot be signed and the work cannot begin.
This is not the first attempt to select a contractor. After the termination of the original contract in November 2024, the authorities attempted to complete part of the work through negotiations with the subcontractor responsible for metal structures. But the subcontractor’s pricing was considered economically unjustifiable, and the process was halted.
In March 2025, a new tender was announced — and again had to be canceled because all bids were excessively high. Another competition was held in June, and it is the results of this tender that are now being challenged. The situation keeps repeating, leading to long delays and worsening conditions for fishermen, who are forced to work without adequate coastal infrastructure.
Project timeline remains uncertain
According to the minister, under the current circumstances it is impossible to specify even an approximate start or completion date. Formally, the tender documents stipulate that the work must be finished within 12 months of signing the contract, but the contractor selection process itself is at an impasse.
The problem is further complicated by the fact that these delays directly affect local businesses and the regional economy: Liopetri’s fishing harbour is considered an important tourist attraction and a center of artisanal fishing. The prolonged absence of necessary coastal structures is hindering infrastructure development and limiting opportunities for boat owners.
Financial guarantees and quality control
The ministry stressed that the future contractor will be required to provide a performance guarantee amounting to 5% of the contract value. In addition, the contract includes a strict penalty clause: in the case of unjustified delays, the contractor will have to pay €1,670 for every day of delay. These measures are intended to prevent future violations and accelerate the project’s implementation once bureaucratic procedures are completed.
The situation in Liopetri reflects a broader challenge Cyprus is facing: rapid modernization of coastal infrastructure is accompanied by a shortage of contractors, rising construction material costs, and lengthy tender procedures. In the coming years, the government plans to expand ports, modernize fishing harbours, and strengthen coastal protection structures — making transparency and efficiency in tender processes particularly important.