The electricity authority (EAC) faces challenges due to inaccuracies of old generators and increased competition, while at the same time the electricity demand is surging, chairman George Petrou said on Wednesday.

“Problems exist and will exist [in the energy sector], as demand is growing and [the power stations] are some years old,” he said after a meeting with Akel general secretary Stefanos Stefanou.

Petrou said that the problems were partly due to the age of the stations, which have been in use for more than 40 years, but added that he remained positive that issues with inaccurate generators could be tackled with efforts already underway.

Akel general secretary Stefanos Stefanou, on his part, said that Cyprus was facing “many challenges” with regard to energy efficiency.

He called on the government to “abandon this passive attitude” and “assume its responsibilities”, saying that the island lacked integrated energy planning, arguing the latter should have been long implemented to avert further power disruptions.

“The necessary measures should be taken, policies and investments promoted,” he said.

Stefanou appealed to the EAC to guarantee a secure, sufficient and affordable electricity supply, stressing that current prices were excessive and that the absence of natural gas was a key factor in this.

“The issue of the arrival of natural gas is still up in the air and it is also an issue for which the government will have to respond,” he said.

Cyprus has experienced a series of both scheduled and non-scheduled power cuts across the island within recent years.

The EAC proceeded with interruptions in several areas, leaving them without electricity for several hours due to increased demand or maintenance work.

Moreover, power outages have previously been caused by faults with the EAC, including at one of Cyprus’ three primary power stations in Dhekelia.