The recycling plant in Aradippou where an explosion injured three people on Friday 29 August has been operating without a licence since 2014, officials confirmed on Monday.
The Larnaca District Organisation of Local Government (EOA) has filed a criminal case against the factory’s owner, said EOA president Angelos Hadjicharalambous. “Given that the metal recycling unit in Aradippou has been operating without a licence since 2014, I instructed the Enforcement Sector to immediately proceed with a criminal case against the owner,” he said.
Hadjicharalambous added that it remained unclear why the Environment Department had issued the owner a permit for the collection and sorting of metals despite the absence of an operating licence.
Aradippou mayor Christodoulos Partou noted that two companies operate side by side in the same activity — metal recycling — and both had faced explosions in recent years. “Last year, there was an explosion in one factory, and this year in the other,” he said.
He explained that the two owners purchased land in 2014 to store scrap metal while applying for the necessary permits. In 2019, the Environment Department, through the Attorney-General, initiated proceedings to halt operations. In 2022, the owners’ lawyers requested an extension, which was refused, leading to a court case.
In 2023, the court imposed a fine of €600 on the owners. Partou said that once he became aware the factories were operating without a licence, he alerted the EOA in writing. A meeting of Aradippou’s municipal council will be held today to discuss further action by the local authority.
Also read: Explosion at recycling plant in Livadia leaves three seriously injured
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