Gas station owners will call for the President of the Republic to intervene regarding the decree issued by the Minister of Transportation that grounds vehicles that do not meet ADR safety requirementswill call for the President of the Republic to intervene regarding the decree issued by the Minister of Transport, which immobilizes vehicles that do not meet ADR safety requirements, by organizing a protest rally outside the Presidential Palace on the morning of Tuesday, July 21.

In statements to CNA, the President of the Pancyprian Association of Liquid Fuel Station Owners, Savvas Prokopiou, said that tomorrow’s protest concerns the decree issued by the Minister of Transport dated August 8, 2025. According to a police statement, the protesters will gather at 10:00 a.m. in the GSP parking lot and then march in an organized manner toward the Presidential Palace, via Iosif X’ Iosif Street and Athalassa Avenue.

Mr. Prokopiou told CNA that “based on the decree, our tanker trucks must be immobilized immediately.”

He added that they had a meeting with the Road Transport Department, which consists of technocrats and advises the Minister.

“We concluded on September 29, that is, 1.5 months later, that, due to practical difficulties and the need for a transition period, they would attempt to secure a five-year extension through the European Commission—an effort that was halted by the Minister. “However, according to European directives, this is mandatory—that is, a transition period is required from the moment the decree is issued,” he went on to say.

As he explained, 80–90% of tanker trucks, under the decree, must be taken out of service. “There are procedures that need to be followed, but they take time; and afterward, once the inspection process is complete, more time is needed for the vehicles that need to be replaced or modified.”

“We, as gas station owners, fully accept this decree in principle; we are simply asking at this time, since we have not reached an agreement with the Minister, for the immediate intervention of the President of the Republic to provide a solution, because simply imposing a decree does not ensure safety,” he noted.

“We are aware of any risks that may or may not exist, but this requires a certain process and some time. Furthermore, there is no infrastructure in place to implement this decree; there is no competent authority that can certify the tanker trucks, and one must be established immediately,” he concluded.

Police Announce Safety Measures

Meanwhile, the Police issued a statement informing the public that tomorrow, July 21, 2026, a protest rally has been scheduled by the Pan-Cyprian Association of Gas Station Owners.

The protesters, as reported, will gather at 10:00 a.m. in the GSP parking lot and will then march in an organized manner toward the Presidential Palace, via Iosif H’ Iosif Street and Athalassa Avenue.

Due to the event, the police may implement temporary traffic restrictions in the area, the announcement notes, adding that police will be present at the event venue to ensure public order and safety, as well as to facilitate traffic flow.

“The public is asked to exercise the necessary patience and cooperation, to follow the instructions of police officers, and, where possible, to use alternative routes to avoid inconvenience,” the statement concludes.

Source: CNA