EAC to invest £80m in Vasilikos

The Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC) plans to invest £80m for the construction of a new electricity production (120MW) unit at Vasilikos.

According to a representative of EAC, the latest investment is part of the third phase of investments at Vasilikos, which provide for the construction of two power-generating units of 120MW each. "For the time being, we will only launch a tender for the first unit but by 2004, the second unit will also be in place," he said, adding that the utility had undertaken a commitment to have both units in place by 2004. EAC will launch a tender for the first unit, which will include a unit for the desulphurisation of crude oil, in the autumn. The desulphurisation facility will be set up in line with EU requirements and will operate using sea water, which will later be discharged back into the sea. There will be no impact on the environment as a result of this process, according to EAC spokesman Tasos Rousos.

As far as the use of natural gas for the production of energy is concerned, Commerce and Industry officials said that the facilities to enable this process should have been in place by now. "While other European countries abandon energy production from crude oil and turn to natural gas, we insist on using oil," they said, adding that crude oil was dearer and more harmful to the environment. According to Solon Kasinis, head of the Energy Service of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, unless Cyprus sets up units for energy production from natural gas now instead of units using crude oil, the situation will soon become irreversible.

During a recent visit to Cyprus, Syria's Petroleum and Energy Minister said that if Cyprus wanted, Syria could start supplying it with natural gas within three years. To enable the transport of natural gas from Syria to Cyprus, the island would have to invest £200m to £250m in a new pipeline, but the long-term benefits would be enormous as natural gas is much cheaper than crude oil.

Translated from Politis