Filenews 2 April 2025 - by Angelos Nicolaou
With the aim of preventing electric shock and impact of large birds, as well as preventing the transmission of fires from such causes, the Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC) is installing special insulating materials and impact avoidance equipment on medium-voltage piles, in the areas indicated by the Game and Fauna Service (MHP). Large bird impact prevention equipment is also installed on the high-voltage lines. These actions are funded by the European programs "Life Bonelli EastMed" and "Life With Vultures", which aim to conserve the white-tailed eagle in the Eastern Mediterranean and to save the vulture in Cyprus, respectively.
However, the Ministry of Agriculture sent a relevant letter to EAC on 20/03/2025, on the occasion of the recent killing of two vultures by an electric shock, which intensifies concerns about the incorrect insulation of electricity transmission lines. The two incidents were recorded on 7 and 18 March 2025 in the area of the community of Korfi in the Limassol district and concern the most endangered bird species in Cyprus. It is noted that in previous years other vulture deaths from impact on cables and electric shock were confirmed. Of the 46 recorded vulture deaths, nine were caused by electric shock and two died due to a collision with cables. Today, the number of vultures in Cyprus is 34.
Despite the continuous remarks and repeated calls for immediate measures, the EAC points out that the EAC reluctance and delay have led to this tragic situation. The area of Korfi is home to a colony of vultures, which use the area for breeding, which makes the need for protection measures imperative. In its letter, the Ministry of Transport calls for the proper insulation of the transmission lines, while it is proposed to replace the cables with XLPE type conductors, which offer better safety and reduce the risk of electric shock.
EAC's indifference seems to be repeated, as this is not the first incident of vulture killing due to its network. Recalling the death of a vulture in April 2022 at the location "Paoura", in the community of Kelokedara in the Paphos district and the failure to take measures that followed, the Ministry of Health denounces the inability of the EAC to proceed with appropriate actions.
The problem extends to other areas of Cyprus, where the application of insulation to the piles is not done correctly, leaving dangerous sections of cables exposed. In the area of Moniati, for example, it was found that the insulation was not done correctly, resulting in uncovered areas that endanger the lives of birds of prey. Similar problems have been recorded in other areas, such as in the community of Maroni and in the "Dipotamos" location of the Municipality of Lefkara in the Larnaca district, where the insulating tapes wear out or unroll.
The Ministry of Defence underlines that this situation also concerns other protected species, such as the spotted eagle and the double falcon, which especially prefer stakes with transformers, which do not have insulation. The Ministry of Transport requires the immediate replacement of the dangerous cables in the Korfi area with insulated XLPE pipelines, while it is proposed to underground the pipeline in the area of Agios Ioannis.
Finally, the MHP stresses that the protection of endangered bird species must be a priority for the EAC and calls on the organization to immediately take the necessary measures to prevent further deaths of vultures and other protected species, but also to reduce the risk of fires from the poor application of insulating materials.
EAC Campaign to Prevent Forest Fires
The Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, promoting a relevant EAC post regarding the campaign for the prevention of fires in the state forests of Cyprus and the implementation of projects in the network that aim to reduce the risks of fire outbreak to a minimum, states characteristically: "EAC has been continuing to underground cables for months. Prevention to avoid forest fires is a collective effort!"
It is noted that the campaign is being carried out by EAC, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, the Department of Forests, the Fire Service and the Ministry of Agriculture. According to the EAC, these interventions focus on high-risk areas, such as the area of Stavros tis Psoka in the Paphos Main State Forest.
A characteristic project is the installation of an underground medium voltage cable of 14 kilometers in length, which extends from the area of the village of Lysos to the Stavros tis Psoka Forest Station and from there to the hill of Horteri. The project also includes the construction of a 700-meter-long medium-voltage overhead line with fully insulated pipelines.
In addition, it is in the final stage of completion of the study of the relocation of an existing overhead line in the area of Kampos of Tsakkistra ("Mavres Sytzies" area), with a total length of 1 kilometer with fully insulated pipelines.
The total length of the EAC overhead networks amounts to 267 km within the state forests and 3,433 km in the forested areas.
For the year 2025, the completion of seven additional pipeline replacement projects with fully insulated ones is planned: Six in the Paphos State Forest and one in the Troodos area with a total length of 11.6 kilometers.
