Larnaca port workers and others held a protest on Thursday against the municipality’s decision not to allow the temporary operation of a company that provides logistics for hydrocarbon exploration.

The workers marched to the town hall where they delivered a petition and then travelled to Nicosia where they continued their protest outside the transport ministry.

The protesters included port workers and former employees of the logistics company, Medserv, and Italian oil firm ENI.

On Monday, the council voted 13 to 12, against allowing the operation of the company, whose services were going to be used by energy giants Total — that plans to undertake exploratory drilling off the island’s coast – and ENI.

Total wanted a six-month extension while ENI had asked for a year, with an option for an additional six months after that.

Extension of the company’s operation is opposed by residents who fear that the town’s port would be turned into an industrial hub with all the risks to their health and the environment it would entail.

This, they said, would also put an end to any prospects of tourist development in Larnaca.

Larnaca Mayor Andreas Louroudjiatis told protesters he understood their concerns and promised to convey the memo to all councillors.

“There was a majority in the council, which rejected Total’s request,” he said. “My appeal to the council was not to close the door to the company but give a few months extension and review the operations, the benefits to our town, taking into consideration energy matters in general.”

Workers later met Transport Minister Marios Demetriades whom they briefed about their demands.

The workers want a comprehensive plan for the port, arguing that without a decision about its future, and without the operation of oil and gas companies, employment would decline dramatically with dire consequences for families depending on it one way or another.

SEK trade union rep Nicos Koliandris said they were clearly in favour of the oil and gas companies staying in Larnaca.

“Of course, the whole issue also rests with Larnaca, and we hope that wiser decisions will emerge, through consultation, so that jobs and growth that the town needs so much are created,” he said.

Koliandris said 150 people had found work because the oil and gas companies operations, which also helped port workers supplement their low income.

The companies were scheduled to leave the port in August 2016 but the government can, in theory, override the municipal council’s decision.

According to Koliandris, the minister told them the government took their positions into consideration but there was also the council’s decision which was difficult to overturn.

“It is necessary to put everything on the table; the municipal council must make wise thoughts and the only way to get a positive outcome is through consultation,” he added.

Ruling DISY chief Averof Neophytou criticised opposition parties for rejecting the companies’ request while at the same time, unions affiliated to them were protesting on Thursday along with the workers.

Neophytou questioned why PEO, DEOK, and SEK did not take protesters outside the offices of AKEL, DIKO, and EDEK and instead demonstrated at the town hall and the ministry.

“This populist mentality, municipal groups siding with the residents demanding the closure of the operations and party unions siding with the workers protesting the loss of jobs, present us as a third world country,” he said.

While AKEL opposed the extension in Larnaca, its mayor in Limassol, was ready to welcome the companies there.

Operations affected the health of Larnaca residents but they did not affect Limassolians, he said.

“Honestly, I cannot understand this logic and what image we give off to global giants that have turnovers many times our country’s GDP. I wonder why they still put up with us?”

Neophytou said he would oppose populism wherever it came from.

“We will be here, the voice of rationality,” he said. “We will oppose populism, we will oppose populist approaches that hurt national interest.”