Speaking to Yeniduzen about the failures in securing reliable electricity supply and how energy policies should be shaped, Yarkıner asked why machines are breaking down and criticised the maintenance practices. He accused the government of trying to dismantle Kib-Tek, the state electricity authority, and urged them to stop interfering.
As of 2024, AKSA Energy supplies around 60-65% of the electricity to North Cyprus. AKSA has signed a 15-year contract with Kib-Tek which lasts until 2038.
He argued that if a solar energy system with at least 50 megawatts and storage is established, North Cyprus would no longer need AKSA. Yarkıner also pointed out that the frequent power outages benefit AKSA financially and called for an investigation into the causes of these breakdowns.
Yarkıner criticised energy production strategies as harmful to both human health and the environment, especially highlighting the outdated and inefficient diesel-powered plants managed by AKSA. He stressed that the current energy production costs are double what they should be and that poor management decisions are costing the country millions of dollars each month.
He highlighted that North Cyprus is increasingly under AKSA’s control due to unfavourable agreements made in the past. Despite Kib-Tek’s capacity to meet most of the country’s energy needs in 2003, this capability has diminished, making the country more dependent on AKSA.
Yarkıner condemned the lack of transparency and oversight in the energy contracts signed without tenders, stating that these agreements were designed to sustain AKSA’s profits rather than secure the country’s energy needs.
He argued that North Cyprus should invest in solar energy and energy storage instead of continuing to rely on outdated, polluting fossil fuel plants. Yarkıner concluded by calling for ethical and principled leadership in the energy sector to protect public interests.
