Filenews 9 February 2026 - by Angelos Nikolau
The expansion and upgrade of the Dhekelia Power Plant is under the microscope of the competent authorities, with the Geological Survey Department sounding the alarm about the geological stability and natural hazards lurking in the area.
In an official letter to the company that carried out the Environmental Impact Assessment Study (EIA), the Department cites revealing data that classify the area of Ormidia in the highest seismic risk zone in Cyprus, while at the same time raising the issue of the tsunami threat.
According to the data of the Seismological Network, the Dhekelia HS is located in an area where the expected ground acceleration reaches 0.25 g, with a probability of exceeding 10% over a period of fifty years. The statistical analysis of the last 27 years is sensational: 281 earthquakes were recorded within a radius of less than 10 kilometers from the station. 35 earthquakes had a magnitude greater than 3 on the Richter Scale and 5 earthquakes had a magnitude of more than 4 on the Richter Scale.
The Geological Survey Department recalls the strong earthquake of January 21, 2021 (M = 5.0), centered in the Achna Forest, just 18 kilometers from Larnaca, as indicative of the dynamics presented by the area.
Particular emphasis is placed on the fact that the station is built right on the coastline. Due to the intense activity in the Cyprus Arc (sea area south of the island), the facilities are considered directly exposed to a potential risk of a tsunami event.
Based on recent research studies cited by the Department, the incidence of such phenomena has been estimated as follows:
Moderate tsunami with a wave height of 1 meter every 30 years, strong with a height of 1 – 2 meters every 120 years and very strong with a height of 2 – 4 meters every 375 years.
Despite the alarming data, the Geological Survey Department has no objection to the upgrading of the project. He clarifies, however, that his role is limited to providing geological data and does not concern the assessment of the strength of buildings.
"The Department is not responsible for assessing the impact of seismic vibrations on the built environment or the behaviour of buildings under dynamic conditions," the letter notes, shifting the responsibility to the designers and engineers of the project.
It is noted that the EAC is proceeding with the installation of new production units and energy storage systems at the Dhekelia power plant at a cost of €180 million, aiming at the modernization of the area and the definitive withdrawal of the old, polluting steam turbines.
The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has already been put before the public and the competent bodies, with the public consultation process to be completed on February 28, 2026.
The expansion of the plant envisages the installation of a new production unit, consisting of two to three Open Cycle Gas Turbines (OCGT), with a total capacity of 60-115 MWe. The characteristic of the new units is their flexibility, as they will have the ability to burn both oil (diesel) and natural gas, as soon as the latter becomes available. Although the project concerns natural gas/diesel, OCGT technology is the transition stage towards cleaner forms of energy.
