Filenews 9 December 2022 - by Chrysanthos Manoli
An additional reason will be given next week by the Transmission System Operator (TSO), CERA, EAC and the Ministry of Energy to... observe the signs of the weather and read every bulletin issued by the Meteorological Service. This is because, as the Administrator's executives explained yesterday, the weather conditions of the next few days will depend to a significant extent whether we will have interruptions in the electricity supply, due to the decision of the EAC guilds not to operate the 6 steam power plants in Dhekelia, with a total capacity of 360 megawatts.
In fact, weather conditions will not determine whether we will have power cuts, but when we will have them, as it is certain that, if the measures are implemented, sooner or later there will be a worsening of weather conditions, an increase in electricity demand and, by extension, a deficit in production, which will lead to periodic and local interruptions.
Open-ended
What is troubling, we are told, is the choice of the guilds not to mention when announcing their protest measures how long they will last. They only say that the measures will take effect from Wednesday 14/12, if there is no successful attempt to find a compromise, but they do not say when the implementation of the measures will end.
The Transmission Operator expressed yesterday the assessment that during the three days of implementation of the measures in the coming week (Wednesday, Thursday, Friday) no production deficit is expected, taking into account the weather conditions that are expected. However, if a breakdown occurs in another unit, the assessment is reversed.
For the time being, it is difficult to make estimates to meet the needs in the week before Christmas, as safe weather forecasts cannot be made.
Our information indicates that the office of the Transmission System Operator (TSO) is already working on the preparation of a thorough assessment of the possibility of meeting the electricity demand without the six "kotziakares" (this is what EAC employees call these outdated units in Dhekelia). We are also informed that a program of local interruptions in the electricity supply will be prepared for the next period, so that, if necessary, there will be some preparation for the moves that will be made.
EAC and the Transmission Operator do not only bet on maintaining mild weather conditions, avoiding some damage and maintaining satisfactory power generation from photovoltaics - wind (which is also linked to weather conditions). They expect to make even more use of the five flexible gas turbines that exist in Moni and Vasilikos (about 180 megawatts in total) to fill any gaps, although the operation of these gas turbines is significantly more expensive than the operation of other units.
POINT OF VIEW
This is not the time to play it comfortably...
We want to believe that the Ministry of Energy and the Government in general will not "sit" on the optimism that, mainly for communication reasons, is expressed by some officials that we will avoid, under certain conditions, interruptions in the power supply, during the winter and during the holidays, if the measures of the guilds are implemented. Sooner or later we will not avoid them. As early as yesterday, intensive consultations should have begun with the EAC's management, the guilds, the Transmission System Operator and CERA so that the measures announced are not implemented. The majority of the demands are not directly linked to wage increases. And in addition, most of the requests are also requests from the Board of Directors appointed by the President. This must be taken seriously by the government camp. And to launch a meaningful dialogue.
