Nicosia, Cyprus. Cyta on Monday urged parliament to approve a bill that would allow the organisation to operate within Cyprus’ energy sector. The bill has drawn criticism from electricity authority (EAC) unions, which staged a work stoppage in protest.
Cyta’s call for approval
In a written statement, Cyta said the measure would enable it to participate in the green transition, offer new services, and strengthen its role within the regulatory framework.
“This is a decision on whether we want a Cyprus that gives room to development, synergies, innovation and more choices for the public,” Cyta said.
Cyta added that approval of the bill would signal confidence in Cyprus’ economic potential and support modernisation of the energy sector.
“The House can send society a strong message of progress. Its positive decision will be a vote of confidence in the country’s potential,” the organisation concluded.
Union protest and concerns
The bill prompted responses from EAC unions, which staged a three-hour work stoppage on Wednesday to protest what they described as a lack of coherent state strategy and favouring of private sector interests.
Kyriakos Tafounas, president of Epopai, the largest union representing EAC employees, said “any strategy targeting the organisation is deliberate and cannot be justified,” citing the authority’s work during last summer’s wildfires in Limassol as evidence of its operational importance.
Criticism of private network provisions
The unions criticised legislation that allows private companies to construct networks in public and private spaces, arguing it has delayed public projects.
Tafounas said the EAC has connected more than 97,000 photovoltaic systems to the grid, achieved renewable energy penetration of up to 65 per cent on certain days, replaced public lighting with LED, installed photovoltaics in schools, military camps and hospitals, and developed infrastructure for electric vehicle charging.
What do you think parliament should prioritise when deciding whether to allow Cyta to operate in the energy sector?
