EAC FOUND GENERATORS FOR DHEKELIA - AGREED WITHOUT INTERMEDIARIES WITH SIEMENS - Filenews 9/4 by Chrysanthos Manoli
Information from Fileleftheros states that the Electricity Authority of Cyprus finally managed to save the lot for the upgrade of the power station in Dhekelia and the strengthening of production with modern, flexible and efficiently advantageous generators.
Although by February, hopes of the EAC being able to reach a final agreement, either with the construction of generators or with an external contractor – installer, in order to have the new units available in 2028 or 2029 at the latest, the intensive efforts made afterwards bore fruit.
The information of Fileleftheros states that the management and management of the EAC proceeded in the previous weeks to direct negotiations with the German Siemens, from which they had preliminarily agreed to buy three generators, with a capacity of 27 megawatts each, through the Greek TERNA, and reached an agreement.
The formula reached by EAC and Siemens provides for the EAC to purchase three industrial-type generators, with a capacity of 27 megawatts each, using diesel fuel. From the information available, it can be concluded that the agreement provides for the delivery of the generators by the German giant to the EAC within specific timeframes, but not their installation-maintenance by Siemens. Obviously this refers to the need for the EAC to come out in a new tender, but this time only for the installation of the generators in Dhekelia. The procedures for this tender must run quickly, so that immediately after the delivery of the generators by Siemens, the contractor's construction sites are ready to start the installation.
– The agreement provides for the delivery of the first generator in the spring of 2028, the second in the summer of 2028 and the third in early 2029.
The timing of the delivery of the generators satisfies the EAC, given the conditions that had been created at the beginning of the year, when the contractors – bidders of the tender that was running at the time could not ensure the delivery and operation of the machines before 2030, due to the huge demand that exists from power producers and other industries.
For the EAC and the Government in general, the installation and operation of the three generators before the end of 2029 was of great importance. According to a commitment by the Republic of Cyprus to the European Commission, the six old and polluting steam power plants in Dhekelia, with a total nominal production capacity of up to 360 megawatts, should stop production by the end of 2029. This loss from the system is considered critical and even partially filling the gap with the 80 megawatts from the new acquisitions is extremely important.
Other information that has not been confirmed by an official source states that the EAC's intention is to proceed as soon as possible with preparatory procedures for the announcement of a tender for the supply and installation at the Dhekelia station of a modern combined cycle power plant for further increase of energy production from that point, which is now intended as the second pillar of the electricity production and supply system in the Cyprus.
The EAC is also holding its 6th unit (combined cycle) in Vasiliko, with a capacity of 160 megawatts, which is ready, but will only be able to be used when natural gas is imported into Cyprus.
