Cyprus risks losing 50% of power capacity by 2030, officials warn

Economy CERAEACelectricityTop News Cyprus risks losing 50% of power capacity by 2030, officials warn Power Cut Leaves Aradippou Without Electricity Since Early Morning Relevant News Cyprus risks losing 50% of power capacity by 2030, officials warn 31 July 2026 Smoke fills sky as fire burns between Koshi and Athienou (photos+video) 31 July 2026 Overnight pharmacies on Friday, July 31 31 July 2026 newsroom 31 July 2026 FacebookXWhatsAppEmailPrintViber Authorities and unions warned Parliament’s Energy Committee, during an emergency session on the July 22 power cuts, that Cyprus risks losing up to half its conventional electricity generation capacity by 2030. The loss is estimated at around 750MW and is linked to the mandatory retirement of nine ageing, energy-intensive generation units at Dhekelia and Vasilikos after 2029. The warnings were made in the presence of Energy, Commerce and Industry Minister Michalis Damianos. CERA, EAC and EAC unions said the existing conventional generation units are up to 45 years old, against an estimated lifespan of around 25 years, and as a result suffer frequent breakdowns, while even units meant to serve as reserves are being used to cover daily demand. A decisive problem in energy planning, according to what was reported, was the failure of natural gas to arrive in 2022. If both the gas project and the electrical interconnection are not completed by 2030, the mandatory retirement of the nine units could create a deficit of around 750MW. Minister: supply secured through 2030 The Energy Minister attributed the July 22 cuts to increased demand and breakdowns in conventional units, and said he expected the problem to be addressed from January 2027, with the installation of the first central power storage system, with a capacity of 120MW, by Cyprus’s Transmission System Operator. Responding to concerns over long-term adequacy, Damianos said that until 2030, needs can be covered through storage and existing generators. For the period after 2030, he pointed to the arrival of natural gas, noting that tender terms for completing the Vasilikos project had been approved. “We hope the new tender will be ratified as soon as possible so the project can continue,” he said. The minister stressed that gas is needed to ensure adequacy in 2030, without committing to a specific timeline, so as not to repeat past mistakes, as he put it. He added that the arrival of gas will resolve the adequacy problem, while EAC has ordered smaller, less energy-intensive units for Dhekelia, expected to be installed before 2030. Causes of the July 22 cuts Transmission System Operator of Cyprus (TSOC) executive director Stavros Stavrinos also attributed the problem to breakdowns in EAC’s conventional units on a day of increased demand. He noted that on July 23, when no breakdowns occurred, no cuts were needed, despite a record demand being recorded. CERA: the real problem begins after 2029 A CERA representative said today’s momentary load shortfalls can be limited through storage, but warned that the serious problem begins after 2029, when, due to European environmental requirements, Cyprus will have to retire six units at Dhekelia and three at Vasilikos. According to CERA, all adequacy studies carried out since 2015 were based on the assumption that natural gas would reach Cyprus by 2022 and that the electrical interconnection would be completed by 2030. CERA has begun procedures to activate Article 34 of European Regulation 2019/943, to secure an exemption for Cyprus and enable the application of an emergency capacity mechanism. Through the mechanism, temporary generation units could be installed after 2030. CERA warned, however, that this is a lengthy and costly process that may not be completed in time. “Whatever solution exists, in the worst-case scenario, will be painful,” the representative said, noting that the cost would run into many millions of euros. Units up to 45 years old EAC also presented a particularly concerning picture. Charalambos Menelaou, Director of Core Regulated Generation Activity, explained that a large part of the generation equipment is operating beyond its expected lifecycle. The units at Dhekelia are reaching 45 years of age, when their operational lifespan is estimated at around 25 years. Their age causes constant breakdowns, increased maintenance needs, difficulty finding spare parts, and serious risks to the reliability of the electricity system. Asked about EAC’s responsibilities, Menelaou pointed out that the Authority had planned the construction of a new gas unit at Vasilikos in good time. The unit was completed but remains inactive because gas has not yet arrived in Cyprus. The new units being advanced at Dhekelia will add only 80MW, an amount that cannot make up for the expected loss of 750MW after 2029. “The system is operating at its limits” EAC unions said they had been warning for years about the problems now becoming visible. They argued that the energy transition cannot rely exclusively on renewable energy sources, and that the electricity system is operating without substantial reserves. “When all available units are running to cover demand, that is not adequacy; it is a sign that the system is operating at its limits,” they said. They warned the problem could worsen in the event of extreme weather conditions or reduced output from photovoltaics. DISY: country “completely unprepared” Energy Committee chair and DISY MP Nikos Georgiou said the country cannot operate on the expectation that no further breakdowns will occur in EAC’s conventional units, describing electricity adequacy as a matter of state security and the smooth functioning of critical infrastructure. Referring to the projected 750MW loss, he said: “As a country, we are completely unprepared to manage this.” AKEL: no guarantee for August AKEL MP Andreas Pasiourtidis said exclusive responsibility for energy security and electricity adequacy lies with the state and the government of the day. He accused the minister of trying to shift responsibility onto the past, while acknowledging that the current Government inherited “energy chaos” from the Anastasiades Government. He stressed that this does not remove the current Government’s responsibility for its actions over the past four years, referring to commitments that were not fulfilled, including the arrival of gas in 2025 and energy storage in 2026. He noted that no one could guarantee there would not be a single minute of power cuts in August. “This is a resounding failure of the Government’s energy policy,” he said. He also revived AKEL’s proposal to establish an Energy Security and Adequacy Council. ELAM: strategic priorities must change ELAM MP Linos Papayiannis said the problem was already known and had affected the country before. “For something we already knew about, there is no excuse to hear the same things over and over again. What lies ahead is not at all promising, and the Government must revise its strategic priorities,” he said. He added that there is a lack of continuity in planning for the arrival of gas and the electrical interconnection, which, he said, is not progressing at the desired pace. DIKO: storage will not cover the deficit DIKO president Nikolas Papadopoulos expressed concern over medium- and long-term planning, noting that the figures on the projected energy deficit cannot be covered solely through storage systems, and asked whether the use of flexible generation units had been examined. DIKO MP Adamos Aspris called for decisions on two levels: short-term solutions through storage, and long-term planning to secure adequacy from 2029, when the Dhekelia station is expected to close. Alma: long-term planning has failed The president and MP of the Alma Movement, Odysseas Michaelides, argued that today’s short-term inadequacy is the result of long-term planning failures, and called for accountability and assurances from those responsible, so that citizens can feel secure. Alma MP Irene Charalambidou said the power cuts were expected, and argued that the boards of semi-state organisations should demand solutions rather than support the governments that appoint them, referring to a roadmap submitted in 2023 by former Energy Minister Giorgos Papanastasiou that has not been implemented. Direct Democracy: “marginal” even with batteries Direct Democracy MP Yiannis Laouris noted that the problems are multidimensional and require long-term planning. “We won’t be fine even with the batteries, because we’ll again be on the margin,” he estimated. He also asked whether small nuclear reactors had been examined, pointing out that reducing energy costs remains a key objective. (Information from Cyprus News Association) Subscribe to our Newsletter Latest News Smoke fills sky as fire burns between Koshi and Athienou (photos+video) Overnight pharmacies on Friday, July 31 Court reserves ruling on Central Prisons documents case Cyprus economic sentiment improves, but households grow gloomier Defence Minister, National Guard chief apologise over Kalo Chorio firing range fire Vyras accuses Government of stinginess over municipal funding Sooshi Mango bring ‘Home Made World Tour’ to Nicosia Follow en.philenews on Google News and be the first to know all the news about Cyprus and the world.