Bases launch energy saving drive

THE BRITISH bases in Cyprus will soon launch an energy saving campaign as part of their efforts to cut back on electricity consumption in the light of the Mari base explosion.

“We are doing what everyone else in Cyprus is doing, that is trying to conserve power,” a spokesman for British Forces told the Cyprus Mail. “We hope to start the campaign within the next few weeks.”

Bases authorities have asked people to limit or stop their use of air-conditioners and restrict their use of water as much as possible.

“Basically we are looking at what is happening on the Republic of Cyprus and following their lead when it comes to energy conservation.”

Akrotiri and Episkopi had been experiencing lengthy power outages in the aftermath of the blast, but the bases operational capability hasn’t been affected according to the SBA spokesman.

Since last week the bases supply has improved with just one or two power cuts a day and the main hospital and airport at Akrotiri are equipped with emergency generators.

Since the destruction of the Vassilikos plant, the Dhekelia power station which lies within the British Sovereign base areas has seen increased activity as the station is now running at full power.

Separately, after being forced off air due to the power cuts, the British forces broadcasting station BFBS Radio One in the west has temporarily swapped frequencies with their sister station BFBS Radio Two.

This means the pop station BFBS 1 can now be heard on 89.7 MHz FM and the popular BFBS 2, which relays BBC programmes, can be found on 92.1 MHz FM.

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.