Cyprus faces a mounting risk of power shortages as a cold snap approaches, with authorities warning of a “critical situation” in the island’s electricity supply.
The Cyprus Transmission System Operator (TSOC) said on Wednesday that power supplies would be stretched from Thursday when temperatures are expected to plummet, potentially pushing evening demand above 900 megawatts (MW).
“The situation is difficult, with demand at very high levels. We hope no problems will arise, but we are closely monitoring developments and will take decisions accordingly”, TSOC spokesperson Chara Kousiappa told the Cyprus News Agency.
Several power generation units at the Dekelia and Vasilikos stations are currently offline due to scheduled maintenance and technical faults, straining the grid’s capacity during peak evening hours between 18:00-21:00.
The grid operator reported that solar installations generated 208 MW at 10:00 on Wednesday, whilst conventional power plants produced 530 MW, with total demand reaching 744 MW.
Officials are particularly concerned about evening peak hours when solar power is unavailable. Kousiappa urged the public to limit electricity consumption during these periods to reduce the risk of power cuts.
“It would be beneficial to use energy-intensive appliances, such as washing machines and dishwashers, during daylight hours when solar power is available”, she said.
The TSOC remains in communication with the Electricity Authority of Cyprus’s generation division, hoping that faulty units will be repaired and returned to service before the cold weather arrives.
Regarding energy exchange with the occupied north of the island, Kousiappa explained it was a technical procedure under confidence-building measures, with small amounts of power flowing automatically between the two systems for grid stability purposes, without financial transactions.
Authorities will reassess the situation on Thursday when temperatures drop and issue further announcements if necessary.
Read more:
