The strike at the EAC sends a message to the government, which is adopting a deliberately neutral stance

 

23 April 2026, AKEL C.C. Press Office, Nicosia

The workers 24-hour island-wide strike at the Electricity Authority of Cyprus is a cry of distress over energy security and the exorbitant cost of electricity. Instead of offering solutions, the government is feigning neutrality and shifting the blame.

The current situation is no accident. It is the result of the policy pursued by the Anastasiades–DISY government, which the current government continues: failure in the natural gas sector, isolation of the EAC for the benefit of major private interests, tolerance of profiteering in renewable energy, and delays in critical infrastructures such as the upgrade of the Dekelia plant and energy storage.

Unfortunately, the worst is yet to come, with marginal sufficiency and rising costs. AKEL stresses that without the political will to confront major interests, affordable energy will remain an unattainable dream. We need to revoke unused renewable energy licenses for commercial parks, tax the windfall profits of big renewable energy companies to fund social policies, and significantly increase renewable sources at the EAC for cheaper electricity.

At the same time, immediate measures are also needed, such as a permanent reduction of VAT on electricity to 5%, expanding the EAC’s social invoices, subsidizing bills through revenue from emissions, ending double taxation on fuels, and strict controls against profiteering.

Only through planning, investment, and prioritizing society can the price of electricity be reduced. This is what the Government must do instead of catering to big business interests at the expense of households.