The completion of the liquefied natural gas import terminal at Vasiliko and the risk of electricity supply shortages after 2030, issues highlighted by Politis in front-page reports earlier this week, were discussed during a closed-door meeting of the House Energy Committee.
The meeting was held behind closed doors due to ongoing legal proceedings involving DEFA. The committee examined the Auditor General's 2024 report on the Vasiliko terminal project.
Following the session, MPs expressed serious concern about the consequences of continued delays in introducing natural gas to Cyprus.
“ We risk running out of electricity after 2030 and the economic solutions will be painful,” AKEL secretary-general Stefanos Stefanou said, issuing what he described as “a desperate SOS for electricity and energy in Cyprus.”
According to Mr Stefanou, the failure to bring natural gas to Cyprus constitutes another major scandal, one that continues to keep electricity prices high because the country remains burdened by emissions costs.
He noted that Cyprus paid €1.2 billion for emissions between 2018 and the first half of 2025.
Mr Stefanou also placed responsibility on the government, stating that “faced with this enormous scandal, the Christodoulides government has moved at a snail's pace.” He argued that not only had the government failed to defuse what he described as a ticking time bomb, but had instead added “new power to a bomb that threatens Cyprus.”
It is recalled that by the end of 2029, generating units at Dhekelia and three generating units at Vasiliko will have to be taken out of service, removing 720 megawatts from the electricity system.
“The government must assume its responsibilities and provide convincing answers but, most importantly, take the actions necessary to ensure energy adequacy and security,” he said.
Calls for a clearer government plan
DISY MP Giorgos Pamboridis said the government must clarify its plans for completing the project.
While acknowledging that the terminal remains necessary, he said that “over the last three years we have seen no developments that encourage us.”
He added that, following changes to the boards of the relevant organisations, committee discussions would need to be revisited.
According to Mr Pamboridis, the objective should be a fundamental change in the way major projects are awarded and supervised so that Cyprus can “rid itself of these enormous delays affecting projects that are crucial to the economy and the country.”
He clarified that responsibility for such reforms does not rest with parliament alone, pointing to the Treasury and arguing that new methods must be found to streamline procurement procedures and give contracting authorities greater flexibility in delivering major projects.
Asked whether he shared concerns about future electricity adequacy, Mr Pamboridis replied that the risk is now clearly visible.
“That is why I have also expressed concern about the apparent inactivity of recent years. We must move forward with specific solutions and the burden rests on the government's shoulders,” he said.
Responding to a separate question regarding the law firm with which he is associated, Mr Pamboridis confirmed that it had represented ETYFA and, by extension, the Republic of Cyprus during arbitration proceedings in London.
He added that he has since resigned from that role because it had become incompatible with his position as an MP.
ALMA criticises handling of the project
ALMA leader Odysseas Michaelides commented that while the Christodoulides administration inherited the problem, “the actions taken over the last three years clearly show that the problem is growing, as is the cost for citizens.”
For that additional cost, he argued, the government bears significant responsibility.
“We are now discussing a tender that is expected to be announced in a month's time, even though then-minister Papanastasiou was telling us it would happen in the summer of 2024,” he said.
