Stelios Sycopetrides of Vassiliko Cement Works (VCW) offers an overview of the Cypriot cement market and industry trends, plus the initial concepts for its new 2.4Mta production line. Here he charts the project implementation, challenges faced and lessons learned following the successful completion of one of the largest industrial projects in Cyprus to-date.
The island of Cyprus, situated at the northeastern end of the Mediterranean basin, is located at a crossroads of three continents, giving it an important strategic location. An independent state since 1960, it became a full member of the EU in 2004 and adopted the euro as its currency in 2008. The population is estimated near one million and GDP, which was €18.5bn in 2011, is dominated by the service sector (tourism ~80 per cent), while industry contributes a mere 18 per cent and agriculture two per cent.
