"Extreme" understaffing, "illegal" operation of the Dekelia power plant, with a consequent increase in pollution and costs, preventing EAC from operating in RES, are some of the perennial problems that have been raised by the trade unions active in EAC, EPOPAI, SIDIKEK, SEPAIK and SYVAEK, who criticize the Ministry of Energy for "continued inaction".
EAC employees feel "intensely indignant and disappointed by the attitude, behavior, and continued inaction of the Ministry responsible for energy regarding the serious issues that have repeatedly been raised and have increased in recent years", they state in a statement trade unions.
Specifically, they refer to "serious and extreme" understaffing of the EAC, which "tends to make it unable to cope with its obligations". They also talk about the illegal operation of the Decelia Power Plant, resulting in a serious increase in pollutants and, by extension, the cost of electricity.
In addition, trade unions report that EAC Production continues to be prevented from operating in the RES sector, and EAC Supply from sourcing cheap energy from RES. "As it appears, with what has been leaked, the Ministry itself prevented and is preventing the EAC from implementing the decisions of the Board of Directors, its goals and mission", they complain.
At the same time, the organizations state that they were in favor of the Electrical Installations Control service remaining in the EAC, both for the safety and protection of consumer facilities, as well as the EAC's facilities and network.
For all of the above, "instead of being given due importance by the competent Ministry, we faced irony, discrediting and the making of non-existent accusations. With unsubstantiated claims and flimsy solutions, he evades his serious responsibilities. It is easier for him to leave points and blame the EAC than to admit the absence of a comprehensive energy strategy and with his casual activity in the sector he risks its collapse in the short term and with all that this entails for the economy of the place", the organizations emphasize.
In the statement, the organizations question why the Ministry is preventing EAC Production from installing RES and reducing production costs, why it did not limit the surplus profits of RES by imposing a cap, and why it allowed RES to make surplus profits due to the increase in fuel.
Furthermore, they state that the only solar farm that channels cheap electricity is the one they allowed the EAC to implement. Still, according to the organizations, the Ministry, in order to allow the EAC to implement its planning for RES projects, requires the withdrawal of Conventional Production Units, "without taking into account the consequences of such an undertaking".
Furthermore, they report that while EAC was forced to pay €43 million for the infrastructure of the arrival of the FA, for use by its contractual units, 2 years later, it is asked to withdraw contractual production in order to be allowed to participate in RES.
Unions note that the retention of conventional units is necessary, as their quality characteristics make them essential for the security of supply and production adequacy of the site, but also to support any other new technologies that enter the production mix, due to the small isolated system and the non-existence of hydroelectric and nuclear units, even when interconnection with other states or even total penetration of RES is achieved.
"Therefore, we consider the hasty and without technical documentation the Ministry's decision to withdraw contractual production that it makes visible the risk of a total blackout, in the immediate future, in addition to removing the state's ability to exercise energy policy for the benefit of the consumer", the organizations note.
With reference to the Dekelias H/S, the organizations state that it is a strategic production area, due to its geographical location and is necessary for Security of supply, for the adequacy and smooth and orderly operation of the Networks. However, the old units of the Decelia Power Plant should be replaced, so that they are more efficient, with lower production costs and reduced emissions. "Instead, the Ministry of Energy illegally promotes the extension of their operation until 2029, without a simultaneous decision to replace them, relying on weak and imaginative and certainly costly solutions", they add.
The organizations also state that the EU, aware of the difficulties encountered in small and isolated systems such as Cyprus, has introduced the terminology of Just Transition, so that it is taken into account that there will be no unfavorable treatment of the ordinary consumer. "Unfortunately in our country, with the invocation of a just transition, positions are being promoted that certainly do not serve its goals," concludes the announcement of the organizations.
Source: KYPE