Cyprus Energy Authority to ensure sufficient power supply

Speaking to CNA, Siammas said that CERA has prepared a strategic plan to ensure sufficient supply and additional security deposits of power.

He said that in view of Cyprus’ EU Presidency the second half of 2012, the system will be updated with an additional 120 mw. At the same time he said that the Electricity Authority will complete the repair of unit 5 at Vasiliko power plant, which suffered major damage, following a blast at a naval base near the coastal city of Limassol last July.

The blast, which occurred in containers full of munitions confiscated from a vessel sailing from Iran to Syria in 2009, resulted in regular power cuts last summer.

CERA Chairman did not exclude the possibility of power failure during the presidency but stressed that the goal is to deal with emergencies and have sufficient supply from units and generators situated in the southern government controlled part of the Republic.

Last July, following the massive explosion at the naval base, arrangements for power supply from the northern Turkish occupied areas were made between a private initiative by the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry to buy electricity and re-sell it to the Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC).

These arrangements did not in any way entail an upgrade of the illegal Turkish Cypriot regime, which no state but Turkey recognises and which the UN has described as “legally invalid.”