Filenews 30 July 2022 - by Angelos Nicolaou
Black and white smoke coming out of the EAC chimneys at the Vasilikos power station is noticed by those who move on the Limassol - Nicosia highway daily, as it is by the residents of the wider area who are suffering, go out in protests and look for answers. The answer is simple. The cause of the smoke in the area is the decision of the EAC to terminate the operation of the anti-pollution systems that have been installed in the last three years, investing €100 million, in order to comply with the emission limits of industrial gases.
EAC knowingly decided to take this action despite the significant exceedances of emission limits of airborne industrial pollutants in its steam production units, in order to avoid instability in its network. In fact, according to the EAC itself, as it states in a letter [reply to the Department of Environment dated 199. 18/7/2022] which "F" reveals today after the installation of anti-pollution technologies in the steam production units 1, 2 and 3 of the Vasilikos power station, problems have occurred in their operation that currently affect the capacity, availability and response of the production units.
EAC, due to the various problems that have arisen and due to the inability of the contractor of the denitrification systems to proceed with their resolution, proceeded to the termination of the relevant contract for the supply and installation of the systems.
The EAC notes that it is in consultation with the manufacturers of the boilers and specialists in anti-pollution technologies and there is an investigation of the problems that have appeared in the operation of the denitrification systems as well as other problems created in various systems of the boilers by the operation of these systems. In addition, the electrostatic dust retention systems of units 1 & 2, due to technical problems, in some cases are put out of order and, due to the safety valve set by their manufacturer, this leads to the deactivation of the desulfurization systems.
According to the EAC, indicative offers of the manufacturers of the boilers of units 1, 2 and 3 for repair of the systems have recently been submitted and evaluated and the offers are being evaluated. The ultimate goal, the EAC notes, is to complete the works no later than spring 2024.
It underlines that the problems that have arisen since the installation of the anti-pollution systems, cause a significant reduction in the availability of steam units in a short period of time. As a result, the anti-pollution systems have been out of service since the beginning of June. It is noted that the EAC contacted the Department of Environment on 18 July 2022 requesting that the possibility of granting a derogation from the specified emission limit values be examined.
