Newsroom
A 24-hour nationwide strike by employees of the Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC) began at midnight on April 22 and is set to conclude at midnight on April 23, with assurances that electricity supply is expected to remain stable under current conditions.
According to Chara Kousiappa, spokesperson for the Transmission System Operator, available data indicates that demand is currently low, and no issues are expected in meeting electricity needs throughout the day. However, she cautioned that system reserves will be reduced, particularly during peak hours. If a fault occurs, especially a major one in the generation system, coverage of demand could become marginal. She added that EAC employees will remain on standby to immediately address any faults in the transmission network.
The strike has led to the closure of Customer Service Centers and EAC offices for the day. Consumers can still pay bills online through the EAC website, the EAC mobile app, bank websites, or at post offices across Cyprus. Requests for new connections, disconnections, transfers, and new customer applications can also be submitted via email.
The industrial action follows recent discussions between EAC unions and Energy Minister Michalis Damianou, where issues related to energy supply, electricity costs, and system adequacy were raised. Union representatives have indicated dissatisfaction with the lack of progress.
Kyriakos Tafounas, president of the EPOPΑΗ–OHO–SEK union, stated that if there are no developments on these issues, further escalation is likely. He said no new updates have been received so far and stressed that decisions must be taken soon. The unions plan to assess the situation following the strike and determine their next steps. If there are signs of progress, they may allow a short period for developments.
Tafounas explained that union actions have intensified in recent months, beginning with a warning strike in February, followed by a three-hour stoppage in March, and stricter measures after Easter. He emphasized that the concerns raised relate to the adequacy and cost of electricity rather than financial demands by employees, and that there is agreement on these issues with both technical experts and the EAC Board of Directors.
He also stated that time is running out, describing the situation as already beyond the critical point. No government official has contacted the unions apart from a scheduled visit by the Energy Minister earlier in the week. According to Tafounas, there was no indication of readiness from the Ministry to proceed with substantial decisions.
Regarding any potential impact on the informal European Union summit taking place in Ayia Napa, Tafounas said that, based on current forecasts from the Transmission System Operator, there is no issue with electricity supply. Still, he acknowledged that a fault in a generation unit could create difficulties. He added that, in previous cases, staff had been released during strikes to handle urgent technical problems, and similar action would be taken if necessary.
He clarified that the timing of the strike was not intended to coincide with the EU summit and said the unions were unaware of the event when the decision was made, as it had received little publicity at the time.
