The supply of electrical energy island-wide for all consumers, households, and businesses will be up in the air due to the decision of the trade unions organized within the EAC to maintain only security personnel at all power generation stations.

High Risk of an All-Out Blackout

This means that the uninterrupted supply of electricity will be "tightrope walking," with the risk of causing a general blackout if anything unpredictable arises, as insiders of the operations of power generation stations point out to INK.

According to a joint announcement by the trade unions EPOPAI-OHO-SEK, SIDIKEK-PEO, SEPAIK, and SYVAIK, from seven o'clock in the morning of July 9, shifts at Vasilikos, Moni, and Dhekelia will operate with security personnel.

Parallel to this, there will be no additions or removals of units from the electricity system, a fact that the unions have repeatedly highlighted, stating that such actions increase the cost of electricity in the country, create chain problems in the operation of the units, and strain both staff and equipment, thereby increasing necessary maintenance.

Unions Criticize Management and State Inertia

The unions criticize the Board of Directors and the Management of the Authority, stating that they should have risen to the occasion to promote and demand solutions to the serious problems confronting the EAC and the energy sector.

"Nevertheless, we find that these remain unresolved, and furthermore, we observe actions by the state that aggravate the situation," they argue, adding:

"With great concern and reflection, we observe that the painful situation into which the electrical energy sector has devolved, with negative consequences for consumers and the economy of the country due to the lack of strategic planning on the part of the State and the procrastination and inertia of the competent bodies, continues with adverse impacts on the operation of the Authority as well."

Demand for Real Solutions Over Empty Promises

"The State," as added in the announcement, "should be engaging with everything that must be done to secure electricity adequacy, security of supply, support for Consumers, real photovoltaics for everyone, and a reduction in cost for the consumer."

"Instead of this, as it has historically done, it consumes itself pretextually with volatile and groundless proposals that supposedly will reduce the cost of electricity, while in reality, the cost continuously increases, as does the risk of a total blackout," the unions claim.

During previous work stoppages carried out by EAC employees, the unions had conveyed the determination of the staff to continue fighting for the protection and safeguarding of the organization, for the benefit of the country's economy and consumers.

"Even though we gave a significant credit of time, there was no mobility toward resolving the problems, which we have historically highlighted and which affect the sustainability of our organization, the cost of electricity, as well as adequacy," the unions note.

Source: ink.com