Larnaca mayor Andreas Louroutziatis extended an invitation to ENI, Noble and Total to operate out of the city’s port on Monday night, flying in the face of AKEL, DIKO, EDEK and Citizens Alliance councillors who stormed out of the session after the council failed to reach a decision to vote.
Louroutziatis and DISY councillors pleaded with them not to, asking them to stay and discuss the company requests.
The marathon meeting, which wrapped up shortly before midnight was punctuated by fighting and shouting matches, between councillors themselves, but also the loud yells of logistics company MedServ employees. According to state radio, workers joined forces with the Nicosia Chamber of Commerce in a bid to force decision makers to approve an extension which would allowing the logistics company offering support services to energy giants to stay in Larnaca.
Monday night’s session was intended to overturn a council vote on February 8 which rejected MedServ’s request to extend operations.
The council had voted 13 to 12, against allowing the continued operation of the company, whose services were going to be used by energy giants Total — that plans to undertake exploratory drilling off the island’s coast – and ENI.
The replacement of Larnaca municipal councilor Haris Constantinides who resigned two weeks ago, with Elias Plastiras was considered to be the game changer in a new vote. During the previous vote on February 8 Constantinides had abstained, allowing the rejection to be passed.
Addressing only DISY and Evroko councillors who remained in the meeting, Louroutziatis expressed his dismay over the course of events saying “my personal opinion is that the energy sector is wanted in Larnaca and I call on the companies to come to the city so we can cooperate together.”
Deputy mayor Petros Christodoulou and head of EDEK municipal team proposed the government offers its own opinion about the city’s energy use so the municipal council can review their opinions and respond to the request.
But his idea could not be discussed after his colleagues, including EDEK party reps, walked out.
Extension of the company’s operation is opposed by residents who fear that the town’s port would be turned into an industrial hub with all the risks to their health and the environment it would entail.
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