Agriculture ministry says Pentakomo reports contain ‘inaccuracies’

The agriculture and environment ministry has dismissed a report by Politico regarding the waste scandal at Pentakomo in Limassol, saying that it contains “inaccuracies”.

“The owner of the Pentakomo waste management plant is the ministry of agriculture, rural development and environment, which acts for and in the name of the Republic of Cyprus. The operation and administration of the said plant has been undertaken by the Water Development Department,” the ministry said.

In a press release, the ministry said it had informed Politico that the questions posed concerned issued directly connected to a pending court case and thus “it would not be right, at the moment, to say anything further or make any comments.”

The ministry said “the proper operation and upgrading of the Pentakomo plant, in the context of the holistic and proper management of all plants and infrastructure for waste management, as provided for, and the strategy we follow, is a fundamental priority for us, on the basis of which we are working on with dedication.”

Politico carried a story on Wednesday saying former Environment Minister Costas Kadis was aware of the imminent environmental disaster at the EU-funded plant in Pentakomo and that waste dumping continued under his watch for five years.

Kadis will be heading to Brussels for his decisive grilling at the European parliament before being given the Commission’s oceans and fisheries portfolio.

He is due to be questioned by the European parliament for his hoped-for new portfolio in early November.