Power supply increased by American generators

ANOTHER 40MW of power was made available yesterday through the recently acquired generators from the American company Energy International, said EAC acting spokesman Ioannis Tsouloftas.

“Last night [Monday] there was a trial connection of 40MW and we expect that soon 60MW will be made available from Dhekelia,” said Tsouloftas.

The first set of generators from the American company which are 60MW in capacity, arrived just over a week ago and were hooked up to Dhekelia power station.

According to Tsouloftas, the remaining 35MW which have been installed at Moni power station will be made available by the coming week.

Head of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KEVE) Manthos Mavrommatis confirmed that the government-controlled areas would continue to receive power from the north, despite the fact that their agreement expires today.

“It will be renewed but just not tomorrow as they’re celebrating Ramadan so are on holiday for a few days,” said Mavrommatis, adding that as soon as they resume they will officially renew the deal and most probably for the next six months.

The supply of electricity will be subject to demand as always, said Mavrommatis.

Meanwhile, Giorgos Shammas, head of the Cyprus Energy Regulatory Authority (CERA) said yesterday at a House Commerce Committee meeting that the increase in electricity costs would be announced today.

Commerce Minister Praxoulla Antoniadou, who was present at the meeting, said that the government will see if there are ways for it to contribute the costs.

“We are thinking about the ways in which the state can contribute in this direction,” said Antoniadou.

According to head of the Committee Lefteris Christoforou, CERA informed them that they intend to contribute to the additional costs if the increase is in the “single digits.”

Christoforou also said that it was “social injustice” that households, businesses and the EAC, would be burdened for something they are not responsible for.

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