In 2023, four applications were submitted for planning permits to construct and operate solar parks with a total capacity of 26 MW and energy storage units of 16 MW in the community of Alektora, Limassol District. The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study was prepared in August 2023 and reviewed in a session of the Environmental Impact Assessment Committee (EIAC) held on 28/01/2025. The Department of Environment requested additional and clarifying information, which was submitted on 12/02/2025 and reviewed in an EIAC session on 26/03/2025.
Terra Cypria and BirdLife Cyprus recommended the rejection of the project due to serious, negative, and long-term impacts on the soil (large areas of high-quality, fertile, and irrigated agricultural land), the landscape (traditional anthropogenic and agricultural character), flora (unauthorized removal of 2,187 citrus trees, planned transplantation of 4,835 olive trees, and proposed cutting of 500–650 cypress trees), fauna (loss of foraging areas for the Egyptian fruit bat, also known as Rousettus aegyptiacus), and birdlife (loss of habitat for important species such as the Bonelli’s eagle, Cyprus wheatear, Cyprus warbler, and Cyprus scops owl). They also highlighted the synergistic effects (need for expansion of the overhead electricity transmission network) and cumulative impacts (in combination with other projects located in the same area).
Although most EIAC members recommended rejection, on 04/07/2025 the Department of Environment issued a positive opinion, stating that it has no objection to the construction and operation of the proposed project, subject to terms and conditions.
On 07/07/2025, Terra Cypria and BirdLife Cyprus sent a letter to the Director of the Department of Environment requesting written clarification on how and to what extent the results of consultations and public participation were incorporated or handled differently in the issuance of the opinion. They also requested a reconsideration and revision of the opinion, taking into substantial account that the proposed project site includes two categories of exclusion zones for renewable energy projects and falls entirely within four categories of areas requiring case-by-case assessment for renewable energy projects.
On 03/09/2025, the Director of the Department of Town Planning and Housing issued four notifications rejecting the planning permits for the project. On 16/10/2025, the matter was discussed in a session of the Parliamentary Internal Affairs Committee.
You can read Terra Cypria’s position paper dated 09/10/2025 here