Petrolina begins second stage of dismantling fuel facilities in Larnaca

Energy Minister Natasa Pilides on Thursday visited the old site of Petrolina’s fuel facilities on the Larnaca-Dhekelia road which the company has begun dismantling, with a view to clearing the area within three months.

The dismantling works began in May 2018 when Petrolina demolished the first fuel tank – the largest in capacity ever built in Cyprus.

Now the company has initiated the second stage of removal of its facilities, involving the dismantling and eventual demolition of 19 fuel tanks of a total capacity of some 40,000 cubic metres.

In a statement, the company said it expected the project to be completed over the next three months.

The facilities in Larnaca date back to 1960.

The company has since moved its fuel terminal to self-owned premises at Vasilikos, near Limassol. Their new facilities there consist of 18 tanks with a total storage capacity of 113,000 cubic metres.

The outfit’s new terminal at Vasilikos cost €80 million.

Commenting on the ongoing dismantling in the Larnaca-Dhekelia area, Petrolina CEO Dinos Lefkaritis said it will free up approximately two kilometres of coastal front.

“Instead of fuel tanks there will perhaps be hotels, museums…since an entire town can be built in the area. We hope that we can play a small part in this effort to develop Larnaca,” he said.

Another company, Hellenic Petrolina, has also secured a permit to demolish its tanks in Larnaca.

Earlier, Larnaca’s mayor said he hoped that all facilities related to LPG will have been transferred to Vasilikos by June or July this year.