Dialogue to begin on bringing natural gas in Cyprus

Speaking after a meeting with Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC) Charis Thrasou and EAC officers, Sylikiotis said the discussed the issue of bringing natural gas so that Cyprus can produce electricity at a lower cost.

He added that when it is determined how and when the natural gas could be brought to Cyprus, ''we will take the final decisions,'' adding that the EAC already has units that can accept natural gas and is planning to set up another unit.

Replying to questions, Sylikiotis said that the cheapest natural gas would be that extracted from Cyprus' own deposits, without ruling out any intermediate solution.

Sylikiotis said they also discussed harmonisation with the new EU Directive for electricity, issues concerning the oil terminal, for which the dialogue will continue, and the energy crisis, for which the EAC has assured that several units would be ready by the Summer to ensure energy adequacy.

Thrasou said the EAC delegation informed the Minister on efforts to secure energy adequacy during the Summer and to repair last year's damage suffered by the island's main power plant at Vassiliko, which was hit by the shockwave of a deadly blast at a nearby naval base.

He pointed out that the damage could not be fully repaired in just a few months but that adequacy could be secured.

Asked if electricity prices would drop when the units were repaired, Thrasou said there were more units that had suffered damage and had to be repaired, noting that the process would take until the beginning of next year.