A plethora of concerns from the local citizens halted the project for a while now, however the official environmental report reconfirms that the site is safe and in accordance with all environmental standards.

The private company interested in the site, Khrysanera Ltd, is planning to invest around €55 million and employ around 70 people. At the same time it is planning to offer 25 scholarships in relevant fields.

The site will have a potential to process around 100 tons of gold. Unprocessed gold which will be imported from other countries will be processed locally and then be exported again in the form of gold bars.

The most potentially harmful substance used at the site is gas chlorine with the company reassuring that it will take all necessary measures for its storing and processing. The public authorities, however, suggested that the company produces its own chlorine if possible from other less harmful substances.

Similar sites are found in other European countries such as Germany, Belgium, Holland, Italy and Switzerland and some of them are located within dense residential areas.

Source: InCyprus