The transfer of 20 MW of electricity from South to North Cyprus on 1st January, following a major power failure in the TRNC, has been hailed as an important albeit temporary step towards confidence building.
The Minister of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Food, Erkut Sahali said that the unification of the electricity networks was “a temporary but important step”. He noted that this was a confidence building measure (CBM) and of benefit to everyone.
Turkish Cypriot daily ‘Halkin Sesi’ reported that unification of the power grid in the north and south of the island had been agreed between the two community leaders, within the framework of CBMs.
Meanwhile, ‘Kibris’ reported that President Akinci’s spokesman Baris Burcu, has said that the work launched within the framework of the Cyprus negotiations had not yet come to the point of permanently uniting the electricity networks in Cyprus, but electricity could be transmitted on a temporary basis.
Replying to questions regarding KIB-TEK purchasing electricity from South Cyprus’ Electricity Authority (AIK), Burcu noted that KIB-TEK asked for electricity from AIK because one of its steam boilers was out of order while the other was undergoing maintenance work. KIB-TEK will pay for the cost for this electricity, he said.
Halkin Sesi, Kibris Gazetesi
