The development of Cyprus' first green hydrogen production and refueling station remains stagnant, as bureaucratic procedures appear to have caused significant delays. There's even a risk of losing a substantial European grant.

Speaking to Brief, Makis Ketonis, President of the Cyprus Hydrogen Association, noted that despite submitting all necessary documents to the relevant authorities 18 months ago, neither the urban planning nor the building permits have been issued yet.

Ketonis warns that this not only delays the project, which costs €7.5 million, but also jeopardizes the 60% funding secured from European funds for co-financing the project, if the necessary permits are not obtained by the summer – the deadline set in the project timelines.

Ketonis also highlighted the project's importance, as the production station will be used as a means of storing energy generated from renewable sources, which is often wasted due to network limitations.

Efforts are also underway to use green hydrogen in transportation, which is a major source of pollution in Cyprus.

For this reason, Ketonis has a scheduled meeting today with the Minister of Transport, Alexis Vafeiadis, to discuss the prospects of using green hydrogen in public and other forms of transportation.

It's important to note that there are various types of hydrogen, with Europe prioritizing green hydrogen. This type is produced using electric energy from Renewable Energy Sources and does not emit greenhouse gases during production. Studies suggest that green hydrogen could cover 20% of the energy demand in the transport sector and the industrial sector.

In conclusion, unlike the declining demand for natural gas due to the EU's green transition, Cyprus could establish itself among countries aiding the EU's shift away from fossil fuels through hydrogen production.