Filenews 25 January 2026 - by Andreas Poullikkas
Cyprus, as the only member state of the European Union that remains energy isolated, faces an urgent need for a comprehensive national energy strategy, which will be based on the utilization of its natural resources, renewable energy sources and regional cooperation.
This strategy is not a luxury, but a necessity, given the EU's high reliance on imported fossil fuels, geopolitical tensions, and climate commitments.
However, despite the declared expediencies and ambitious plans, the Cypriot state faces a perennial weakness in the implementation of a consistent energy policy. The history of natural gas imports into Cyprus is an illustrative example of this path of failures and delays, which has cost the Cypriot economy and the energy security of the island incalculable.
This failure is primarily due to the state's long-standing inability to manage large-scale infrastructure projects. The state apparatus has shown anarchy in the execution of decisions, elements that act as a deterrent to the implementation of any strategic project. Successive governments have failed to take binding decisions, together with anticipating the consequences of not implementing them, to maintain firm policy directions or to commit to long-term energy development plans that would go beyond the five-year term of the government. This situation resulted in a gradual retreat from the initial planning and then the abandonment of energy policies that could transform our country.
Timeless weakness
The cost of this failure is tragic and multidimensional. In addition to the direct economic cost, the non-existence of natural gas in Cyprus' energy mix has created a deep problem of energy security. The country remains dependent on liquid fuels imported at a cost subject to fluctuations in international prices, with little room for manoeuvre.
The long-term failure in the import of natural gas coincided with delays in other critical projects, such as the delay in the competitive electricity market, the implementation of the Great Sea Interconnector (GSI), the postponement of the exploitation of hydrocarbon deposits and the absence of a clear role of Cyprus as an energy hub. The weakness of the state is a bigger problem than exogenous geopolitical challenges, it is an inherent structural problem that undermines any national energy strategy.
Electrical interconnections
Geopolitical challenges intensify the urgent need for a strong long-term integrated national energy strategy, particularly in the face of Turkey's multidimensional energy strategy, which includes massive investments in renewables, nuclear energy and pipelines, while at the same time challenging the Cypriot exclusive economic zone (EEZ) through illegal interference in exploration activities.
These actions not only hinder the exploitation of hydrocarbons in the Eastern Mediterranean, but also delay critical projects such as the electrical interconnection between Greece, Cyprus and Israel, which would solve our country's energy isolation. Without interconnections, Cyprus suffers derogations from the European regulations of the single electricity market, resulting in higher costs and increased risks of supply interruptions, which affects the economy and competitiveness.
Regional cooperation emerges as the optimal strategic response to these challenges, with the Cyprus-Greece-Israel trilateral initiative, supported by the US, serving as a pillar of stability and growth. The electricity interconnection will integrate Cyprus into the EU's internal electricity market, drastically reducing the costs of producing and importing liquid fuels, while creating new opportunities for exports. It is also important to be able to use the region's natural gas as a transitional solution for the transition to hydrogen by 2050, while contributing to the stability of European energy security.
An integrated national energy strategy will set ambitious but achievable targets for the installation of renewable energy sources in all energy sectors with the aim of achieving climate neutrality by 2050, adapted to the particularities of Cyprus.
RES penetration and storage
In the electricity sector, a drastic increase in the penetration of photovoltaic and wind systems, combined with smart grids and extensive storage, is needed to ensure system stability and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
In transport, the strategy should promote the electrification of private and public vehicles, the deployment of charging infrastructure across the territory, as well as the gradual introduction of green fuels, such as green hydrogen and synthetic fuels, for heavy road, maritime and air transport. In the heating and cooling sector, policies should focus on improving the energy efficiency of buildings, the extensive use of heat pumps and solar thermal heating systems, as well as the utilisation of waste heat in industrial applications.
The development of energy storage infrastructure, both at grid level and in decentralized applications, through battery systems, pumped storage and in the future through the production and storage of green hydrogen is also crucial. Hydrogen can act as a long-term storage medium and zero-emission fuel for industry, transportation, and power generation, enhancing the resilience and flexibility of Cyprus' energy system. A comprehensive national energy strategy will also incorporate initiatives such as the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) for energy transit from India and the Middle East to the EU, while the EU must exert diplomatic pressure to defend the rights of the Republic of Cyprus and promote common infrastructure.
The essential finding is that the gap between the declared energy targets of Cyprus and their actual implementation remains very large. The implementation of an integrated national energy strategy, with consistency, stable political will and systematic monitoring, can ensure energy security, support sustainable development and close the long cycle of inefficiency that characterizes our country's energy policy.
* Professor of Energy Systems / Frederick University
