"Extreme" understaffing, "illegal" operation of the Dhekelia power plant, with consequent increase in pollutants and costs, obstruction of AHK from operating in RES, are some of the long-standing problems that have been raised by the trade unions active in AHK, EPOPAI, SEDIK, SEPAIK and SYBAIK, which criticize the Ministry of Energy for "continued inaction".
The employees of AHK feel "strongly indignant and frustrated by the attitude, behaviour and continued inaction of the Ministry responsible for energy on the serious issues that have been repeatedly raised and inflated in recent years," the trade unions said in a statement.
Specifically, they refer to the "serious and extreme" understaffing of the EAC, which "tends to make it unable to meet its obligations". They also refer to the illegal operation of the Dhekelia power plant, resulting in a serious increase in pollutants and consequently in the cost of electricity.
In addition, the trade unions state that AHK Production continues to be prevented from operating in the RES sector and AHK Supply from obtaining cheap energy from RES. "As is evident from what has been leaked, the Ministry itself has been preventing and is preventing AHK from implementing the decisions of the Board of Directors, its objectives and mission," they complain.
At the same time, the organizations state that they were in favour of the Electricity Installations Control Department remaining in AHK, both for the safety and protection of consumers' installations and of AHK's facilities and network.
For all of the above, "instead of being given due importance by the competent Ministry, we were confronted with irony, denigration and the projection of unsubstantiated accusations. With unsubstantiated allegations and flimsy solutions, it evades its serious responsibilities. It is easier for him to leave points and blame AEK than to admit the absence of a comprehensive energy strategy and with his occasional activity in the sector he is putting at risk its collapse in the near future and what this implies for the economy of the country", the organisations underline.
In the statement, the organisations ask why the ministry is preventing AEC Production from installing RES and reducing production costs, why it has not limited the excess profits of RES by imposing a cap, and why it has allowed RES to make excess profits due to the increase in fuel prices.
In addition, they state that the only photovoltaic park that channels cheap electricity is the one that they allowed AHK to implement. Still, according to the organizations, the Ministry, in order to allow AHK to implement its plan for renewable energy projects, is demanding the withdrawal of Conventional Generation Units, "without taking into account the consequences of such a project."
They also state that while AHK was obliged to pay €43 million for the infrastructure for the arrival of PV, for use by its conventional units, 2 years later, they are asking it to withdraw conventional generation in order to be allowed to participate in renewable energy.
The trade unions note that the maintenance of conventional plants is necessary, as their qualitative characteristics make them essential for the security of supply and generation adequacy of the country, but also to support any other new technologies integrated into the generation mix, due to the small isolated system and the absence of hydro and nuclear plants, even when interconnection with other countries or even total penetration of RES is achieved.
"Therefore, we consider the Ministry's hasty and without technical documentation decision to withdraw conventional generation that it makes visible the risk of total shutdown in the near future, in addition to removing the ability of the state to conduct energy policy for the benefit of the consumer," the organizations note.
With regard to the Dhekelia nuclear power plant, the organisations say that it is a strategic production site due to its geographical location and is essential for security of supply, for the adequacy and the smooth and orderly operation of the networks. However, the old units of the Dhekelia E/C should be replaced in order to be more efficient, with lower production costs and reduced pollutants. "Instead, the Ministry of Energy is unlawfully promoting an extension of their operation until 2029, without a simultaneous decision to replace them, relying on illusory and fanciful and certainly costly solutions," they add.
The organisations also say that the EU, aware of the difficulties encountered in small and isolated systems such as Cyprus, introduced the Fair Transition terminology so as to take into account that there will be no unfavourable treatment to the ordinary consumer. "Unfortunately, in our country, with the invocation of the Fair Transition, positions are being promoted that certainly do not serve its objectives," the statement of the organisations concludes.
Source: CNA
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