However, the timeframe for the project remains uncertain, as approvals depend on various government departments, including the general directorate for development and the environment department. According to the Limassol Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Evel), the deputy ministry has already identified and secured a suitable plot of land, granted to the Environment Ministry following a Cabinet decision.

In line with regulations, an environmental study has been prepared and submitted to the Environment Department for evaluation. The study was commissioned in accordance with the 2016 Regulation of Public Procurement Procedures and Related Matters Law, with the contract awarded to the private sector. The same procedure will be followed for subsequent studies required for the project’s next phases.

Meanwhile, the Project Concept Note (PCN), a key requirement in the evaluation of major public infrastructure projects, has been completed by the Deputy Ministry of Shipping. The document will now be submitted to the general directorate for development within the Finance Ministry, accompanied by the department of environment’s assessment, for further evaluation and approval. Under newly established procedures outlined in a circular by the Finance Ministry, all projects with significant financial costs must also undergo a viability study if the PCN is positively assessed. This additional study will be submitted to the general directorate for development for independent evaluation before final approval.

The Deputy Ministry of Shipping is working to secure all necessary approvals, stressing that “the new building must comply with conditions set by the Finance Ministry for government infrastructure projects”. Authorities involved in the process acknowledge the urgency of the project and are making efforts to accelerate procedures where possible. However, it remains unclear whether a section of the existing Nemitsas industrial site—classified as ‘remarkable’ by the Department of Public Works—will be preserved or demolished. A final decision on this matter will be made at a later stage.

According to the same report, the deputy ministry sees the project as “a milestone for Limassol’s shipping sector, not only addressing its housing needs but also enhancing the port district”. “For the first time, Limassol will host its only deputy ministry in a new, purpose-built facility, reflecting the prestige and institutional presence of the Republic of Cyprus,” they added. “Designed to align with green transition goals, the building will operate with a zero-carbon footprint, producing as much energy as it consumes,” the reports concluded.

Source: Cyprus Mail