We are paying dearly for the government’s incompetence on Natural Gas
Statement by AKEL Political Bureau member Eleni Mavrou
AKEL C.C. Press Office, 16th November 2019, Nicosia
Today’s press reports on the decision of the European Investment Bank to no longer fund projects with fossil fuels, including natural gas, pose enormous dangers and puts the project of importing natural gas into Cyprus in adventures.
The mistakes and omissions of the Anastasiades-DISY government in the procedure of introducing natural gas are so serious that, even with the funding, it is doubtful whether the project will be viable. However, if the funding is lost, the project will eventually become unsustainable and the effort will without doubt be led to complete failure.
It is the government ruling forces themselves who, when in opposition, were the ones that undermined and proceeded to the annulment of the 2011 agreement which if continued and applied we would today have had cheaper Natural Gas and as a consequence cheaper electricity. For seven years now the government ruling forces have been trying to introduce Natural Gas without results. So far, there have been three unsuccessful attempts.
Cyprus and taxpaying citizens are paying a heavy price for the familiar incompetence of the Anastasiades-DISY government also on the issue of the arrival of natural gas. It has been estimated that over 150 million Euros have come out of citizens’ pockets all these years to pay for the rising cost of electricity.
Is it ultimately perhaps futile to expect that at some point the government will take on its responsibilities?
