Larnaca’s district government organisation (EOA) on Monday filed a lawsuit against the metal recycling factory in Aradippou where an explosion injured three people on Friday for operating without a licence.

District governor Angelos Hadjicharalambous told the Cyprus News Agency that the factory had been operating without a licence since 2014.

“We do not know why the environment department had given the owner a permit to collect and sort metal for recycling despite the fact that he did not have the necessary licences for the factory,” Hadjicharalambous said.

Environment department director Theododoulos Mesimeris said the department had exhausted all means at its disposal regarding the factory collecting and processing scrap metal.

Aradippou mayor Christodoulos Partou said another similar company was operating in close proximity to the factory and that last year an explosion had occurred at the former site, in addition to the one on Friday.

“The owners of the two establishments had bought a piece of land in 2014 to place their scrap metal. At the same time, they applied for licences,” Partou said.

He added that in 2019 the environment department, through the attorney-general, had initiated procedures to postpone the operation of the factories. In 2022, the lawyers representing the owners requested more time, however the environment department refused and launched a court case.

In 2023, the court fined the owners €600 each.

According to Partou, when he became aware of the fact that the factories were operating without a licence, he sent a letter informing Larnaca’s EOA.

Aradippou’s municipal council convened on Monday to discuss the issue and decide on further action, including the possibility of suing the owners of both factories.

Partou said a letter will be sent to the environment department requesting an explanation as to why the two factories existed.

It was also decided that legal advice be sought regarding further action.

“We expect an answer within the next few days to see how we will proceed. We may also take legal action against the owners of the factories,” Partou said.

Mesimeris said the environment department was responsible for checking whether the factory was licenced to process waste and that the factory where the explosion occurred on Friday did not have the necessary permits, which led the department to decide an out-of-court arrangement.

As “this business continued to fail to comply […] we decided to submit a report to the Law Office with the request that the factory is shut down or its operations postponed”.

An indictment was then prepared with the suggestion that the business be shut down, however “the business’ lawyer requested that our position be revised”.

“The environment department carried out all the actions provided for by the law […] and the court decision was to impose a fine of €600 plus legal costs, which amounted to approximately €1,100,” Mesimeris added.

Partou said the environment department gave the two factories a permit to transport and collect scrap metal, however they were also processing the material, which should have been sent to a licenced company for processing.

“The question is why the owners of the two factories are allowed to manage and process without the necessary permits,” Partou pointed out.

He also wondered, “if the state itself through the attorney-general cannot oblige the owner to work legitimately, who else can?”