Electricity Market Association warns that Cyprus’s power grid reliability is at a critical level

Cyprus’s power system is operating at a critical level of generation adequacy, with its safety margin reduced to a minimum. This was stated by the Electricity Market Association (ΣΑΗ), which brings together participants in the Cypriot electricity market. According to the association, with the grid in this condition, any serious technical failure could result in widespread power cuts.

The causes listed include rising consumption, ageing generation units, the need to keep desalination plants operating continuously and prolonged delays to major energy projects. The rolling blackouts introduced on 22 July are described by the association not as a routine event, but as a measure to protect the system from a cascading failure.

According to the association, a private power plant is technically ready to immediately add capacity to the system and can operate under current conditions until natural gas arrives, but it has still not been connected to the grid.

The deadlines for the arrival of gas have been postponed repeatedly, while the liquefied natural gas reception terminal in Vasiliko is described by the association as an exceptionally problematic and expensive project. The operation of the sixth unit of the Vasiliko power station depends on its launch.

Another concern is the delays affecting energy storage: major applications for storage projects remain unresolved, while the distribution network operator considers adding batteries to existing photovoltaic parks to be a new connection. As a result, the association estimates that millions of euros are lost every month, while cheap green energy goes to waste.

The association is calling for political will, clear deadlines, accelerated licensing and joint action by the state and the private sector. “Energy security cannot rely on the worst-case scenario being prevented every time,” the statement said.