Cyprus-Forum.com

[skyvet]

Has anyone heard any definate news about the rumoured electricity strike for this coming Wednesday? I've been told by more than one person that it's going to last 24 hours, and we'll all be totally powerless throughout the island during that period.
Their timing (if this goes ahead) is impeccable, as Wednesday is also forecast to be the hottest day so far, with shade temperatures rising as high as 120'f. Athens had similar temperatures yesterday, and the front is coming our way.
Sadly I've heard this morning of the first death caused by the heat, and can see dire consequences if we're without power for air-con or fans on Wednesday, especially among the older members of our community.

[juliesewell]

My understanding is there is a strike but not a total cut off. If there are any problems within the strike period, such as a power cut (usual when there is a heatwave), the EAC will not respond to the power outage until the defined strike period is over.

I hope that's correct anyway - otherwise, it's gonna be one hell of a day!

[skyvet]

Thanks for the info Julie - you're obviously better informed than me (which isn't hard!)
Apparantly this strike is in protest about the proposed introduction of natural gas onto the island - serious stuff eh?? Maybe someone should point out to the EAC that lighting and general consumer goods don't run on gas, so their jobs are quite safe!

[Crivens]

Great. We had a powercut yesterday for 2 hours. Luckily right at the end of my working day, so no harm done. Hopefully fine on wednesday. Maybe a good idea to buy a bag of ice...

Cheers

[orokliniservices]

With temperatures reaching 120 i think that bag of ice is going to be melted quite quickly!! Oh Skyvet.. i hope what you've heard is wrong for our sake and our little doggies sakes too.. Guess that will be one more reason to hit the Tav!! oh no... no electric.. no cold beer??? what are we going to do???!!!!!!

[devil]

Thanks for the info Julie - you're obviously better informed than me (which isn't hard!)
Apparantly this strike is in protest about the proposed introduction of natural gas onto the island - serious stuff eh?? Maybe someone should point out to the EAC that lighting and general consumer goods don't run on gas, so their jobs are quite safe!

You are misinformed.

The natural gas issue is for electricity generation, which won't help greenhouse gas emissions one jot: in fact, it will make them worse, holistically, as you will see from the link.

The dispute is the Ministry insisted on a floating LNG regasification plant as a temporary measure, while the bureaucracy handled a land-based one, cutting the implementation time by a couple of years. The EAC, sensibly, strongly opposed this decision because:
- a floating one is experimental and has yet to be shown to be technically feasible
- it would be more costly to run
- it would be less safe in case of violent storm, tsunami or earthquake
- it would cause higher greenhouse gas emissions
- it would cost hundreds of millions of € more
- there would be a greater risk of rupture of supply.
Yhe Minister stuck his heels in and very democratically told the board of the EAC, who knew their job better than the Minister, that if they did not like his decision, they will have to resign. Weakly and meekly, the EAC board turned its collective coat around and said, OK, a floating regasification unit would be just wonderful. However, the EAC technical/engineering union was not so easily duped as the board and are protesting rightly at this waste of public money.

I hope that the first quarters to be cut off are those where the Ministry has its offices and the Minister has his home.

[devil]

EAC staff go on 24-hour strike


26/06/2007

…as EAC Chairman clashes with MinCom over LNG deal

Efforts to convince the Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC) staff to refrain from strike action did not succeed, with EAC staff proceeding with their 24-hour strike action for Wednesday in protest against the decision of the government to opt for a floating LNG unit as a stop-gap measure until a permanent LNG storage facility can be constructed inland, which is also the EAC’s preferred choice.

Meanwhile the Chairman of the EAC, Charilaos Stavrakis walked out of a stormy parliamentary session after Commerce Minister Antonis Michaelides unleashed a strong attack against the Board and staff of the EAC for their stance taken on the LNG issue. Michaelides raised the fury of the EAC staff when he described them as “anarchists” and also charged that the Board is constantly changing stance.

Michaelides claims that EAC unions have no right whatsoever in how the LNG is brought to Cyprus and where it is stored, adding that the Attorney General also agrees that this is not a matter for unions to decide.

EAC staff union spokesman Andreas Panorkos countered that they have every right to be involved in such a crucial decision, on which rests the future survival of the EAC. “We apologise to the public for the inconvenience,” he said promising that in case of emergency the staff would be at hand to assist the public.

The EAC position is backed by all the political parties, except the ruling DIKO, which has kept a neutral stance on the matter. The other parties have called on the government to resolve the issue through a dialogue and to change a cabinet decision taken on June 6, 2007 according to which Cyprus will construct an inland LNG storage facilities but in the meantime will also ask for tenders for a floating unit for up to five years.

[Cyprus Vending]

This is what we know:-

Play Schools where closed --- We had to collect Louis from school today! We 'should' have more news on Sunday as to when he can go back!!!

The EAC strike will continue for THREE days...

We went to the supermarket this afternoon and stocked up!

CAN ANYONE TELL ME --- WHO IS RUNNING THIS COUNTRY???

THE GOVERMENT OR THE UNIONS????????????????????????????