It was responding to news reports claiming further delays.

In a statement, the ministry said that the cabinet earlier this week approved the release of the final tender documents to the project suitors.

The tender documents would be delivered on Friday as scheduled, it added.

The ministry also rebutted claims that the mooted project is beset by legal complications.

It said that a legal opinion, delivered by the attorney-general’s office on August 13, cleared the way for the project.

Additionally, the ministry had received the opinions of the Commissioner for State Aid Control and the Commission for the Protection of Competition.

It’s understood that the project’s suitors are having reservations about a clause that places a cap on the volume of cargo to be processed at Larnaca port.

A ceiling of 900,000 tonnes per annum has been placed. The clause had been inserted in the agreement for the development of the new Limassol port and terminal, inaugurated in May this year.

Initially, three suitors had expressed an interest in the Larnaca project. Two subsequently withdrew, leaving only Ampa Ltd & Israel Shipyards Ltd in the running.

Source: Cyprus Mail