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MINES SERVICE
Introduction
The Mines Service is the competent authority of the administration of the Mines and Quarries Law and Regulations and the Explosive Substances Law and Regulations.
Mining and quarrying
The mining industry has been on the decline (practically non - existent) for the last three decades. The only mining activity is the Skouriotissa Copper Mines where by the application of the leaching - SX - EW method is succeeded the production of high purity copper cathodes (99.999%).
Concerning the prospecting of metals a great interest was shown for copper and precious metals, especially gold.
There is extensive quarrying of rocks and industrial minerals in Cyprus. There are about 230 quarries producing of various materials. They produce for local use havara, sand and gravel, aggregates (from limestone and diabase), building stone, limestone, clay, gypsum etc. and for export building stone, gypsum, bentonite, umber and ochre etc. There is also local production and exports of quick and hydrated lime, portland and other types of cement, gypsum plasters etc.
There is also great interest from foreign companies for prospecting of gypsum.
Environment – Health and Safety
Every two years the big mining and quarrying operations have the obligation to submit to the Mines Service renewed environmental study taking into consideration the new conditions of the exploitation area.
A great share of Mines Service personnel time is spent for inspection of the working conditions (health and safety) in mines and quarries and related installations. The effort is to eliminate accidents and occupational diseases. The people working in mining and quarrying are examined every two years by the Pneumoconiosis Medical Board.
Explosive Substances
The Head of the Mines Service is also the Explosives Substances Inspector and has the control of the import, storage, sale and use of the explosive substances, ammunition and pyrotechnic articles.
Production – Exports - Economics
The average annual production of various materials is shown in metric tones on the tables below.
The average annual income of Mines Service from rents, fees and royalties is C£2.500.000. The amount of C£1.500.000 is granted to the Communities, affected from the quarries operation, in order to use it for the development of their own program.
The average annual income of Cyprus from exports of ores and industrial minerals amounted to C£10.000.000.
Harmonized Legislation
With the accession of Cyprus to the European Union the following European laws concerning civil explosives have been adopted:
- Council Directive 93/15/EEC of 5 April 1993 on the harmonization of the provisions relating to the placing on the market and supervision of explosives for civil uses.
- Commission Decision 2004/388/EC of 15 April 2004 on an Intra-Community transfer of explosives document.
- Commission Directive 2004/57/EC of 23 April 2004 on the identification of pyrotechnic articles and certain ammunition for the purposes of Council Directive 93/15/EEC on the harmonization of the provisions relating to the placing on the market and supervision of explosives for civil uses.
Contact data
Mines Officer
Lefkonos 1, Strovolos, Nicosia, Cyprus
Postal address
Mines Service
1422 Nicosia
Cyprus
Tel.: +357-22409283
Fax: +357-22316872
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© 2003 -2010 Republic of Cyprus, Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment |
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