Energy Minister highlights role of Cyprus' electricity interconnection

Energy Minister George Papanastasiou has highlighted the role of electricity interconnection in lifting Cyprus’ energy isolation, creating a more competitive energy market and furthering the penetration of renewable energy sources.

He argued that this should be combined with the modernisation of electricity networks through digitalization and storage solutions.

The Cypriot Energy Minister participated in EU Energy Council taking place in Brussels on 17 March, a press release by the Ministry said.

In the context of the discussion for the Action Plan for Affordable Energy, the Minister welcomed the Commission’s initiatives to provide affordable energy prices to households and industry, as well as the actions to define a unified pricing methodology for network charges.

Referring to the energy security, the press release added, Papanastasiou welcomed the efforts to strengthen the EU's energy security, noting that it is necessary to take into account the needs of isolated and non-interconnected EU member states.

He also underlined the need for upcoming legislative proposals to take into account the way in which the gas and electricity markets are interconnected, as well as the price implications of incidents affecting the supply chain.

He also referred to the importance of protecting both existing and under-construction critical energy infrastructure in the EU.

During the working lunch, in the presence of the President of the European Network of Transmission System Operators (ENTSO-G) Bart Jan Hoever and the President of the Administrative Board of the ENTSO-E , Damian Cortinas, a discussion took place on the protection of critical energy infrastructure.

In his intervention the Cyprus Minister referred to the changes required to be made by Distribution System Operators, as well as the need to build new electricity interconnections between member states.

On the sidelines of the Council, the Minister participated in a working breakfast with the “Friends of Renewable Energy” group, during which a discussion was held on the role of RES in terms of energy security and price reduction in times of crisis.

(Source: CNA)