"There is no intention at present for the European Investment Bank (EIB) to request a revocation or termination of the loan" granted to the Natural Gas Infrastructure Company (ETYFA) for the Vassiliko project, EIB Vice President Kyriacos Kakouris has said.
Speaking on 25 September, he was responding to a journalist's question on the sidelines of an event to sign agreements for two new grants from the Bank.
The question concerned the information that the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) is demanding the return of €67 million from the funds allocated for the implementation of the natural gas terminal project in Vasilikos, on the grounds of the irregular award of the tender.
Asked whether the EIB is considering withdrawing the financing that had been provided to ETYFA in the form of a loan, Kakouris replied that the Bank "is monitoring all developments and its officers are in constant contact with the officers of ETYFA, DEFA and the Ministry of Energy", underlining that "there is no intention at present for the EIB to request withdrawal or termination of the loan."
"On the contrary," he added, "the EIB wants to support the Cypriot Government in bringing natural gas to Cyprus."
Kakouris continued by saying that “it is something very important for our economy and as a Bank we consider it an important project for the place and we will support it.” He finally clarified that “no decision has been made at this time about anything different from what exists so far.”
On his part, the Minister of Finance Makis Keravnos, who was asked about the actions that the Ministry intends to take, replied that the Ministry of Finance has been concerned about the issue that has arisen in recent times. "We will examine all aspects and handle it in the most appropriate way," noted Mr. Keravnos, without elaborating further.
The EIB did not receive a request for GSI financing.
Kakouris, who was also asked about the possibility of financing the electricity interconnection project between Cyprus and Greece, replied that the project in question is still under study and that there was no request for financing before the EIB.
“The EIB has been approached by the Minister several times, but the EIB President herself has made contacts with the Ministers of Energy and Finance of the two countries and has stated that the EIB will evaluate the project when the energy plans of the two countries are approved by the EU,” he said. Kakouris clarified that “at present, the EIB does not have a request for financing the project.”
(Source: InBusinessNews)
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