AHK’s role in ensuring energy sufficiency and security is crucial

Statement by Stefanos Stefanou, General Secretary of the C.C. of AKEL

6 March 2024, AKEL C.C. Press Office, Nicosia

As part of AKEL’s campaign on energy issues, we had a meeting today with the Chairman and members of the Board of Directors and Management of the semi-governmental organisation Cyprus Electricity Authority (AHK) to discuss various issues regarding both the energy sector and the role of AHK.

AKEL’s position is that AHK has a crucial role in ensuring the energy sufficiency and security of Cyprus, an island country isolated in the Eastern Mediterranean. AKEL will continue to stand by and support AHK so that it can play this crucial role.

We discussed issues concerning both investments that need to be made by AHK for its penetration in the field of renewable energy sources, for increasing AHK’s share in the energy mix from the production of electricity from renewable energy sources, as well as issues concerning AHK’s facilities in Dhekelia.

AKEL’s position is clear. Dhekelia belongs to AHK and as a public asset it should remain in AHK’s control and should be upgraded under its own responsibility, which is necessary for Cyprus’ energy sufficiency and security.

We discussed issues related to the price of electricity, which is very high because investments that should have been made have not been made in recent years. The previous government showed great incompetence and criminal negligence on the arrival of natural gas for power generation purposes and today we are paying tens of millions of euros for pollutants that consumers are paying for through their electricity bills.

At the same time, AHK has made an investment of 150 million euros to be able to generate electricity in Vasilikos from natural gas, but if the government fails to bring in natural gas, we will continue to generate with fuel oil and diesel, which means that we will continue to pay for pollutants.

In addition to AKEL’s long-standing support towards AHK, we have demands from the Board and we are strict critics. We also have demands in the direction of the government, which must provide every support and opportunity for AHK to be able to enhance its decisive role.

From the previous government, unfortunately, the necessary support was not forthcoming. On the contrary, there has been a lack of support and obstacles and barriers have been put in place to enable AHK to be in a position to ensure energy security and sufficiency in the country.

We agreed with the President and the members of the Board that we will continue our interactive contacts and dialogue for the benefit of both AHK and, by extension, society and the Cyprus economy.

I would like to thank Mr. Petrou for his participation in today’s meeting. I am sure that AHK also knows that it has a genuine interlocutor and supporter.

06.03.2024