The Government is concerned about the ways in which it can bring natural gas to Cyprus as soon as possible for electricity generation, given the high prices of petroleum products in the international markets, said today the Minister of Trade, Industry and Tourism Praxoula Antoniadou… In statements after the inauguration ceremony of the "Alexigros" Wind Farm in the Klaudia Community of Larnaca province, the Minister was asked to state why the arrival of natural gas in Cyprus for electricity generation has been delayed for years.
"It is a fact that the Electricity Authority has already completed two combustion plants, which can operate on both natural gas and oil," he said, adding that "it is unfortunate that the arrival of natural gas was not possible before the discovery of our deposits. which would give the opportunity to reduce the cost of electricity production ".
He added that at the moment "efforts are being made so that on the one hand we can utilize our own natural gas for electricity generation in the shortest possible time." "In about 3-4 years, our own natural gas can come to Cyprus and in the meantime there is the question of whether we should move before that, with the import of natural gas," he said.
At the same time, the Minister continued "and given the increase in oil prices in international markets, the state is concerned about how it can reduce these costs in prices coming from abroad, or by expanding the definition of vulnerable groups, which Of course, it is not without cost, or in ways that will be targeted ".
Answering a relevant question, Ms. Antoniadou reiterated that "at the moment the state is concerned about the ways in which we can bring natural gas to electricity generation as soon as possible so that the costs of electricity production can be reduced."
Praxoula Antoniadou was also invited to comment on today's statement by the Director of Energy at the Ministry of Commerce, Solonas Kasini, according to which he is ready to "shake hands" with the Minister.
"Let's focus on the essence of the work and the work that we have in front of us and leave the issues of public relations once again," said the Minister of Commerce.
Referring to the wind farm, Ms. Antoniadou said that "this project contributes, like other similar projects, to strengthening the contribution of renewable energy sources to the energy balance at a time when Cyprus, like other European countries, is looking for ways to break free from petroleum products." "We know that as a result of developments in international markets, prices are rising and making economies vulnerable to price fluctuations in international markets," he said.
He added that "the independence of the Cypriot economy from external factors goes through the strengthening of the energy balance from renewable energy sources, whether they are wind energy or photovoltaics. "In the medium term, until renewable energy sources can make a major contribution to the energy balance, we and Europe will have to resort to other forms of energy, such as natural gas."
That is why "we expect that in a few years where we will be able to utilize our own gas resources, the cost of energy will be able to be reduced."
Source: iKypros