eac unions — eac unions — Trade unions representing workers at the Electricity Authority of Cyprus will escalate their industrial action starting Thursday, but they assure that electricity generation will remain uninterrupted.
In a statement to CyBC radio on Tuesday, Kyriacos Tafounas, president of the trade union for employees at Epopai, confirmed that only essential safety personnel would be on duty at the authority’s power stations during the upcoming measures. This move aims to ensure that electricity production remains stable amid the industrial action.
Tafounas emphasised that if electricity demand surges or operational necessities arise, the responsibility for managing the system and addressing any potential power cuts would shift to the Transmission System Operator. His comments reflect the unions’ commitment to maintaining a reliable electricity supply, despite the ongoing protests.
This latest escalation follows previous protest actions intended to spotlight serious concerns over electricity supply adequacy and the rising costs faced by consumers. Tafounas highlighted the unions’ position that the Electricity Authority should be allowed to procure cheaper electricity from private renewable energy producers, which he believes would help mitigate costs for consumers.
Moreover, he stressed the importance of expanding photovoltaic installations while ensuring that adequate energy storage systems are in place. Such measures are essential for maintaining the stability and efficiency of the electricity network, particularly as the demand for renewable energy sources continues to grow.
As the situation develops, the unions remain focused on advocating for changes that could enhance the electricity supply framework in Cyprus, while ensuring that the essential services provided by the Electricity Authority are not compromised during their industrial action.
