**Greek Cypriots Supply Electricity to Turkish Cypriots Amid Ongoing Supply Issues**
On Monday evening, the Transmission System Operator (TSO) began supplying electricity to the Turkish Cypriot community, as confirmed by assistant operations director Harry Zavallis. This decision comes in response to ongoing faults that have plagued the energy supply in the northern part of the island over the weekend.
Zavallis stated that an agreement has been reached to provide between 20 and 50 megawatts of electricity to the Turkish Cypriots, contingent on their requirements and the available capacity. The supply is set to be delivered between 3:30 PM and midnight. “Within the context of the existing confidence-building measure, we will be providing electricity to the Turkish Cypriot community, provided that there is capacity and that there is no problem,” Zavallis explained. He noted that this cooperation is reciprocal, as the Turkish Cypriots have similarly assisted the Greek Cypriots in the past under the same framework.
Earlier in the day, Ahmet Tugcu, leader of the Turkish Cypriot electricity workers’ trade union El-Sen, confirmed that as of 4:30 PM, the TSO was supplying 40 megawatts to the Turkish Cypriot community. Tugcu had previously commented on the challenges facing the northern energy supply, stating, “the world has switched to silicone insulators, but we are still papering over the cracks.” He highlighted that a recent fault in the north had led to temporary power cuts on both sides of the island.
Insulators play a crucial role in the electricity supply system by blocking the flow of electric current to prevent short circuits and ground faults. Tugcu pointed out that the northern region currently relies on glass insulators, which are not only costly but also labor-intensive to replace. He advocated for the adoption of silicone insulators, which he described as easier to clean, less expensive, and quicker to install.
The recent malfunction in the power grid was attributed to seasonal maintenance, according to Tugcu. He elaborated on the ongoing challenges faced by the northern power supply, particularly the absence of a “base load power plant.” Such a facility is essential for providing a continuous minimum supply of electricity to the grid. The increased demand has put additional strain on the existing power stations, including the Teknecik plant near Kyrenia, operated by the Turkish Cypriot electricity authority Kib-Tek, and the Kalecik plant near Trikomo, run by the Turkish energy company Aksa. Tugcu noted that this strain on the system has led to failures in the aging machinery, which has been in operation for 25 years.
Last week, a separate incident involving a “lack of communication” between solar farms and the electricity distribution coordination center resulted in solar farms being disconnected from the automatic supply system. This disconnection was due to incorrect readings being sent to the coordination center, leading to power cuts across the island. Initially, the electricity authority had to purchase 30 megawatts from the Turkish Cypriot authorities to address the situation before the issues spread to the northern region.
The cooperation between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities in the energy sector highlights the potential for collaboration amid ongoing challenges. As both sides navigate their respective energy needs, the recent agreement to supply electricity underscores the importance of maintaining open lines of communication and fostering confidence-building measures in the region.