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Cyprus is regarded as one of the most ancient sources of asbestos. During the Classical and Roman periods, asbestos was used for the manufacturing of shrouds for the cremation of the dead, shoes and wicks for lamps. The modern exploitation history of asbestos begins very early in the 20th century, when the chrysotile type of asbestos began to be used extensively by the construction industry. In 1904 some villages were given exploration permits for asbestos in the eastern slopes of Troodos, resulting in the discovery of rich asbestos veins. Finally, the right for exploitation was granted in 1934 to the “Cyprus Asbestos Mines Ltd”, which moved on to the gradual mechanisation of the mining and ore enrichment processes during the 1950s. The company terminated its activities in 1988.
The ore is extracted from the earth; the extraction brings about changes in the landscape and the vegetation of a mine site. The lengthy operation period of the asbestos mine by the open cast method has unavoidably affected the natural environment of the area and had direct and indirect impacts to the broader environment. The absence of relevant environmental legislation during the main period of the operations resulted in some environmental problems. Following the termination of the mining activities and the mining lease in 1992, the Government undertook rehabilitation works.
The rehabilitation works began in the autumn of 1995 under the guidance of a multidisciplinary team consisting of a geologist, a geological engineer, a forester, a mining engineer, a town planner, a health inspector and an environmental scientist. The works, aiming mainly at the stability of the waste dumps and the reforestation and re-vegetation of the restored areas, are conducted following a Restoration Plan. Furthermore, a general plan for the usage of the area is prepared to be implemented after the completion of the restoration works.
In the framework of the Master Plan that was prepared for the usage of the area and the buildings of the mine after restoration, they were developed and are operating the “A. G. Leventis Botanical Garden”, the Visitors’ Center of the Troodos Geopark, seed bank of endemic flora species of Cyprus and the central part of the crater of the mine was reformed and a pond was developed to sustain the biodiversity of the area. |
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Rehabilitation works at the central part of the crater of the mine (photo Manos Manoli) | 
Restored buildings and several places to visit (photo Manos Manoli) |
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Management of Asbestos Waste
Asbestos was used extensively in Cyprus as a construction material in the form of panels for roof covering, water pipes and tunnels as well as in other industrial applications. Based on many medical studies concerning the high risk that asbestos poses to the human health, the use of asbestos is internationally avoided due to its dangerousness. Nowadays there is a tendency to replace asbestos with other safe industrial substitutes.
In Cyprus, due to the social concerns about this matter, the Ministry of Communications and Works had the initiative to begin the last years, the demolition and replacement of asbestos-made roofs in public buildings (governmental offices, schools, camps etc.). After extensive negotiations of the Competent Authorities with the community of Amiantos and relative decisions of the Council of Ministers, a specific landfill site for asbestos waste resulting from demolitions has been designated in the Amiantos mine. Since 2010, one or two campaigns (spring - autumn) per year have been carried out for burial of asbestos waste. Until the end of 2017, 20,000 cubic meters of asbestos waste have been buried, while at least another 80,000 cubic meters are expected to occur in the coming years.
The Technical Committee for the Rehabilitation of Abandoned Mines (former Technical Committee for the Rehabilitation of the Asbestos Mines) has the supervision of the asbestos burial works. The Geological Survey Department has the coordination of asbestos burial works, and the Departments of Forests, Environment, Water Development and Labor Inspection are also involved in the burial procedures of asbestos waste.
Citizens who have premises that contain asbestos materials should be aware that the removal of materials containing asbestos fibers must be performed by a licensed contractor, as well as the subsequent management and storage of the asbestos wastes until their transfer to the Amiantos mine for their final disposal. |
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