Filenews 14 May 2022 - by Angelos Nikolaou
EAC's hands are tied and with the consent of CERA it continues to keep alive the polluting Dhekelia power plant, since it is considered necessary both for technical reasons of electricity adequacy and for reasons of stability of the country's power generation system.
Given that the 6th Combined Cycle Gas Turbine Unit at Vasilikos IC with a total maximum capacity of 160MW will not be put into commercial operation before the summer season of 2024, a study of the Production Development Program is currently in progress at the EAC. Furthermore, according to information provided by "F", in relation to the illegal operation of the Dhekelia power plant, an opinion has been requested from the Attorney General as to whether this plant will continue to operate with fuel oil in violation of the Community directive.
It is noted that the plant in Dhekelia has been operating illegally since last January, since it has not secured the Industrial Emissions Permit (SA) in violation of the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED). What the government is considering and awaiting clarification is whether criminal measures should be taken against the EAC at the national level, since the law prohibits the operation of any facility without the SA license.
Pending the new study of the development program that is in the final stage, EAC is currently carrying out all the necessary works for the maintenance of the production system. Any decisions should be taken as soon as possible, since the derogation granted by Brussels for the operation of the six steam production units of Dhekelia station has expired since the beginning of 2022. It is emphasized that the station in Dhekelia does not have the appropriate anti-pollution equipment and therefore is not able to comply with the emission limit values.
In the ranks of the EAC there is concern about possible interruptions in the power supply during the summer season, since it is not yet clear how the Government will handle the violation of the directive, but also what are the consequences at European level. The fact is that it should have already closed the operation of the six steam power plants in Dhekelia.
Instead, it seems that for reasons of electricity adequacy, the EAC is expected to upgrade this plant in Dhekelia using polluting fuel oil for the purpose of sufficiency of the electrical system. According to the Authority, the continuation of the operation of the six steam power plants of the power plant in Dhekelia is considered necessary for the purposes of adequacy of production, safe operation and stability of the electrical system. It is noted that the Commission gave a derogation to the operation of the EAC plant in Dhekelia for 18,000 hours which could be exhausted in four years, from 1/1/2020 – 31/12/2023. However, the extension of the opening hours was exhausted in the first two years, and more specifically completed from 20/1/2022.
