Energy Affairs Bureau of the C.C. of AKEL statement on the government’s Renewable Energy Source plans

 

19 January 2022, AKEL C.C. Press Office, Nicosia

The plans of the Ministry of Energy, Trade and Industry for the installation of commercial systems for the production of electricity from photovoltaics, as well as other Renewable Energy Sources (RES) systems, can be considered anything but successful. Unless the Ministry considers profiteering at the expense of consumers and piecemeal projects a success.

AKEL has calling on the government for years to proceed with tenders for renewable energy source projects.

In 2012, when a tender for RES was held, prices of between 7.4 and 9.5 cents per kilowatt hour were secured. Today, based on the Ministry’s plan, Cypriot consumers pay 18 cents per kilowatt-hour for the purchase of energy from newly installed photovoltaic systems, while consumers in other European countries where such tenders are held pay 1.5 cents in Portugal, 3.5 cents in Greece and 5 cents in Germany for the same energy.

Even the competitive market that the Ministry invokes is not expected to lead to reductions in prices.

After almost nine years of Anastasiades-DISY government, a comprehensive Long Term Strategic Energy Plan with the EU Road Map as its central axis until 2050, with intermediate targets 2030 and 2040, was never submitted.

The plan should have covered all aspects of energy strategy in electricity, natural gas, transport, energy saving and the impacts on the economy.