Cyprus energy ministry triggers emergency mechanism over power security concerns

The Cypriot Ministry of Energy, in cooperation with the Regulatory Authority for Energy (RAEK) and the Transmission System Operator, has activated Article 34 of the Law on the Regulation of the Electricity Market. This move serves as an emergency safety net to ensure power supply stability in the face of a worst-case scenario where the arrival of natural gas and the completion of the country's electrical interconnection are delayed beyond 2029.

Polyvios Lemonaris, the president of RAEK, informed the Parliamentary Committee on Energy that the activation is necessary because the Dhekelia Power Station units, which provide approximately 720 megawatts of electricity, are scheduled to be decommissioned by the end of 2029. If alternative energy infrastructure is not operational by then, the nation faces a severe risk of electricity shortages and power outages. Article 34 is designed to trigger when the system's power capacity margins fall below critical safety thresholds. The authorities are currently monitoring the situation to manage the potential energy deficit and prevent disruption to the national grid.