Green Monday power cut affects whole island

THREE power generators at the Vasiliko power station shut down at lunchtime on Green Monday, leaving nearly half the island without electricity.

Electricity Authority of Cyprus spokesman Costas Gavrielides said that two of the three generators were back up and running by 5pm, with the third however still not in operation by yesterday afternoon.

Back-up generators were used to supply electricity, with inconvenience to the public kept to a minimum. Vital systems at airports and hospitals were not affected.

Fifteen minutes after a problem was detected, back-up gas turbines at Moni were activated and electricity supply was back within half an hour.

“After such a huge loss of electricity, the back-up generators did a great job,” Gavrielides said.
The fault was said to have originated after a valve checking the Control Air Supply Pressure System malfunctioned, meaning the generators automatically shut down in order to avoid possible damage.

All towns across the island were affected by the fault, which occurred at 12.23pm.

“Unfortunately, we cannot predict or avoid these things,” the EAC spokesman said. “However, we have a standby system in place in order to replace faulty equipment and continue supplying electricity to all of our customers.”

Maria Nicolaides was one of the people affected. “I was working on my computer and was on the phone when suddenly I lost all power in the house. I went to check with neighbours who told me the same thing had happened to them,” she said.

“I was surprised since it has been a long time since the last power cut but within half an hour everything was up and running again.”