Fuel prices for vehicles and heating – excluding agriculture – are expected to go up by about 10 per cent by 2027 as a result of a new European directive on emission pricing, the House environment committee heard on Wednesday during the presentation of Cyprus’ updated energy plan.

Fuel prices will also be going up due to the fact that the national plan provides for an increase in the biofuel included in vehicle fuel, in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Cyprus will be submitting the final update of its unified national plan for energy and climate 2021-2030 to the EU in December.

Director of the Environment Department Theodoulos Mesimeris said the national aim was to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 32 per cent by 2030, in relation to 2005, which amounted to about three million tonnes.

The first compliance cycle from 2021 to 2025 will close in 2027 and Cyprus will have to pay €150 million – €30 million per year – for those five years, he said.

Mesimeris said efforts were being made so that the people would not be burdened with high fuel prices.

Speaking after the meeting, environment committee chairman Charalambos Theopemptou said the MPs present had expressed grave concern over what they had heard.

To reduce emissions, more biofuel would be added to fuel, which would push petrol prices up, he said.

He added that there were also problems with buildings because Cyprus did not make the necessary energy upgrades when the effort began over a decade ago.

“We have now reached the point where we have energy poverty, which means a lot of people are finding it difficult to keep their homes warm,” Theopemptou said.

Putting prices up, he added, would mean “many Cypriots will be much worse off than they are today.”