Nicosia, Cyprus. The Cyprus petrol station owners’ association has called on President Nikos Christodoulides to intervene over a transport ministry decree that it says could immediately immobilise 80 to 90 per cent of petrol tankers.
Association chairman Savvas Prokopiou said the sector accepts the decree in principle but requires time and infrastructure to comply with its requirements.
Call for solution
Prokopiou said the decree requires tankers to be immobilised immediately, while the procedures needed to bring them into compliance would take time.
He said petrol station owners had not reached an agreement or found a solution with the transport minister and requested the president’s immediate intervention.
“Imposing a decree does not ensure safety,” Prokopiou said.
Certification infrastructure
The association said the infrastructure needed to implement the decree is lacking and called for the immediate establishment of a competent body to certify tankers.
Prokopiou said the sector was aware of potential risks but that the process required time.
Planned protest
Petrol station owners are scheduled to hold a protest on Tuesday, starting at 10am from the parking area of the GSP stadium.
The demonstration is set to proceed towards the presidential palace via Iosif Street and Athalassas Avenue.
