Recent days have seen a rise in fault incidents in the network and/or electricity generation of the Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC), resulting in temporary power cuts in various parts of Cyprus.
On the positive side, however, these faults are not connected to one another and do not stem from a single problem, but instead involve different generation and distribution systems.
In previous days, for example, there was a fault in an underground EAC cable, while yesterday’s technical problem involved a generating unit at the EAC’s Dhekelia power station, with officials noting that these incidents are not linked.
Nearing the record
Not unrelated to the rise in network faults is the electricity consumption seen in recent days, driven in part by temperatures that have climbed compared to previous days.
On Monday night, demand reached 1,286 megawatts, effectively nearing the record set on July 22, 2024, of 1,294MW. Should high temperatures continue, that record could potentially be broken within 2026.
This is, in fact, the concern among officials, since Cyprus’s installed conventional power generation capacity stands at 1,478MW. However, as is known, not all units can operate simultaneously due to maintenance and other factors, meaning available capacity falls below that figure.
While electricity supply appears sufficient as long as demand doesn’t exceed record levels, the real risk lies in a fault occurring at a generating unit. In that case, power cuts would be all but certain. At the same time, it should not be overlooked that cuts remain possible even without faults, if demand exceeds the capacity of units currently in operation.
Four confirmed faults in 20 days
Not counting minor local incidents or scheduled power cuts, four major incidents occurred between July 1 and July 21.
Two involved generating units and caused cuts in various parts of Cyprus, while the other two occurred in the distribution network and affected areas of Nicosia.
Specifically, the first fault took place on July 10 at the Vasilikos power station. A technical problem in Unit AT/S 1 resulted in the loss of 60 megawatts of generation and load shedding in various areas countrywide. The fault occurred at 20:10, and power was restored at 20:37.
Two days later, on July 12, a fault in an underground EAC network cable caused a power cut in areas of Lakatamia. Areas affected included Agios Mamas, Anthoupolis, the Archangelos-Anthoupolis area and Nicosia Mall. High temperatures or humidity had been cited as a possible cause of the fault.
A new fault in the EAC network occurred on July 20 in Nicosia, leaving part of Engomi and the area from the Kykkos traffic lights to the Hippocrateon without power, following an overload in an underground cable.
The fourth fault took place on July 21 at a generating unit at the Dhekelia power station. The loss of 51 megawatts caused load shedding and temporary power cuts in various parts of Cyprus. Power supply was restored within 17 minutes.
In total, two of the four confirmed faults occurred in the generation system, at Vasilikos and Dhekelia, and affected electricity supply countrywide. The other two involved the distribution network and affected areas of Lakatamia and Engomi.
According to officials, however, these faults are likely to occur more frequently and more easily as temperatures rise, meaning they could increase in the period ahead.
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