EAC denies blame for oil spill

THE ELECTRICITY Authority of Cyprus has denied claims an oil spill covering a large stretch of the Limassol coastline was caused by maintenance work at the company’s power station in Vasiliko.

Patches of oil first appeared on stretches of sea between Dasoudi and Ayios Tychonas last Friday and authorities were said to be investigating the possibility that the slick occurred during maintenance work of crude oil pipes by the authority (EAC).

The EAC said in a statement that its own investigations showed the leaked substance was different to the crude oil used by the authority at the Vasiliko power station.

Menahwile, Timis Efthymiou, Minister for Agriculture and the Environment criticised the slow response of the Fisheries Department to the slick, saying the department had “rightly been criticised.”

“They were informed yesterday that there were oil patches in various areas. But even though these first appeared on Friday there was some hesitation.”

The Green Party also joined the Minister in criticising the department, accusing it of “indifference and of dragging its feet.”

No one from the Fisheries Department was available for comment.

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