The Environmental Authority has approved the construction of a wind farm within the Koshi-Pallourokampos Natura 2000 protected area near Kellia, Larnaca, despite multiple regulatory breaches during construction.
The authority published a supplementary Special Ecological Assessment report yesterday, January 7, 2025, addressing modifications to the original plan which reduced the number of turbines from six to three, though of higher capacity.
The Department of Environment noted that while fewer turbines reduced the environmental footprint, the project required wider access roads for transporting the larger turbines, which was stipulated in the planning permit.
However, the developer proceeded with construction work without adhering to several conditions of the 2019 ecological assessment, including restrictions on construction during breeding and migration periods, road widening limitations, and required agreements with the Game and Fauna Service.
These violations resulted in fines from both the Game and Fauna Service and the Forestry Department.
The Environment Department had ordered work to stop pending review, but construction continued and was completed by December 31, 2024, when the planning permit expired.
Environmental groups Terra Cypria and BirdLife Cyprus jointly condemned the authority’s decision, saying it retrospectively legitimises systematic violations of environmental legislation.
Following a site visit yesterday, they confirmed the wind farm’s completion “in violation of legally binding conditions.”
Environment Department Director Lakis Mesimeris denied legitimising any violations, stating that breaches have been highlighted and the Town Planning Department has been called to take action.
The environmental groups also criticised the approval process, noting that no assessment report had been sent to the Ad-hoc Committee members as required by law, before its sudden publication yesterday afternoon.
