A record in electricity demand was recorded on Monday night, due to the freezing cold temperatures gripping Cyprus from cold air mass Coral, and the government has been called on to take measures in order to avoid adverse developments.
Transmission System Operator (TSO) spokeswoman Chara Kousiappa said that demand was very close to maximum supply, reaching 1,108Mw at times.
Kousiappa explained that two units at Vasiliko were working over their limit to cover the demand and that one unit had not yet been fixed.
She added that there had been no exchange with the north, as it was struggling to meet its own demand.
Monday night’s demand surpassed the previous record of January 2022, when it had reached 1,066Mw.
Demand on Tuesday was expected to be the same or less, and renewable energy sources were not contributing to the grid due to the weather, Kousiappa told the Cyprus News Agency.
Kousiappa clarified that TSO compared winter values, as the summer ones were different.
Sepaik trade union leader Marios Papouttis told CyBC radio that the electricity authority (EAC) was very close to power cuts.
The EAC, he said, managed to get the two units at Vasiliko working to cover demand and that the whole situation was the result of “total lack of comprehensive planning on behalf of the state”.
He added that unit six at Vasiliko was still not working and that measures must be taken.
cyprusmail
