The government must find solutions to complete the terminal at Vasilikos as soon as possible

 

Statement by the General Secretary of AKEL Stefanos Stefanou

25 May 2024, AKEL C.C. Press Office, Nicosia

The Christodoulides government isn’t responsible for the erroneous agreement – which smells of a scandal – regarding the Vasilikos liquefied natural gas terminal. The responsibility for it lies entirely with the Anastasiades-DISY government.

However, the Christodoulides government bears responsibility for its erratic handlings and inability to solve the problem. The government is called upon to find solutions so that the project can be completed as soon as possible.

Without the completion of the Vasilikos terminal, we won’t be able to have natural gas for power generation purposes and society and the economy will continue to pay hundreds of millions of euros in pollutants. We recall that last year these pollutants cost over 350 million, which goes into consumers’ electricity bills.

The bleak prospects for the completion of the project in Vasilikos will further aggravate energy expensiveness and price increases in general which is draining people’s pockets.

In view of this situation, the Christodoulides government must end its indifference to the pressure felt by households and small and medium-sized enterprises and proceed – at long last – to take measures to relieve the pressure on the economy and support society. Ways and measures exist, but it is being proved that the government doesn’t have the political will to proceed with them.

AKEL proposes a series of measures to reduce the price of electricity and fuel, which it will continue to press for the government to adopt.