Find Mining expertise in Cyprus

Although Cyprus has a long history and strong culture of mining, the sector now only makes a small contribution to the national economy.

The mining industry of Cyprus was once incredibly profitable, being active in the production of copper, iron pyrite, gold and asbestos fibers. The mining sector began to shrink in the 1970s, due to several external factors, including the 1974 Turkish invasion of the northern part of the Island where several important mining areas existed; the exhaustion of copper deposits in the country’s most important mines, and the stigma surrounding the use of asbestos in the international marketplace.

Today, although very little mining takes place in Cyprus, one of the few mines still in use is the Skouriotissa copper mine of owned by Hellenic Copper Mines. Canadian company Northern Lion Gold Corp has been carrying out exploratory work searching for gold deposits continuing to explore for gold in the Troodos Terrane on the central part of the island. The company has also commenced a 1,500 diamond drill programme as a joint venture with another Canadian company, Centerra Gold. The programme is being carried out across areas of the districts of Paphos and Larnaca.

In 2012, according to the Statistical Service of the Republic of Cyprus, there were 534 people employed in the mining and quarrying sectors in the country.

There are around 230 quarries exploiting mineral resources in Cyprus, these include clay, shale, bentonite, umber pigment, limestone, marl, gypsum and yellow ochre pigment. Much of the quarrying that takes place on the island is for domestic use. The country is considered largely self-sufficient in the production of aggregates for building purposes. Some of the most important quarried materials for use on the island include are limestone for the building industry and the construction of roads; gypsum and clay for the production of cement, with the latter also used in making bricks and tiles.

Bentonite, gypsum, umber and lime are also exported.

The government body responsible for administering the mining sector in Cyprus is the Mines Service, which falls under the auspices of the Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and the Environment. The Mines Service was introduced to oversee the development of the mineral resources in the country, while minimising the effect of mining activities on the environment and ensuring safe working conditions for workers.

Ownership of mineral resources in Cyprus is vested in the government, which grants mining permits, leases and licenses through the Mines service.

The government body responsible for mineral resource exploration and evaluation is the Geological Survey department, which operates under the auspices of the Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and the Environment’s Geological Survey Department.

Legislation regulating the extractives industry in Cyprus includes the 1959 Mines and Quarries regulation law, the 1958–79 Mines and Quarries regulations and the 1975 Cyprus Standard and Control of Quality Law.

EITI status

Cyprus is not currently EITI compliant.