Trade unions said they were disappointed from Tuesday’s meeting with Energy Minister Michael Damianos, who pointed out that problems in the energy sector could not be solved overnight.

Peo representative Demetris Constantinou said, ahead of Thursday’s 24-hour strike – the third work stoppage in a row – that the unions’ positions were aligned with those of the Electricity Authority (EAC) board of directors.

Earlier, Damianos had met with the EAC board to exchange views on photovoltaics, storage, networks and power stations. “It was a good discussion, we are moving forward,” Damianos said.

Referring to his meeting with the trade unions, Damianos said their demands were “not unreasonable” and were similar to the issues discussed with the EAC board.

“These are longstanding distortions in the energy sector that need time to be resolved. We are moving forward with steps in the right direction,” he explained.

Damianos pointed out, however, that there were regulations that must be observed.

Commenting on the planned strike action, the minister said the cabinet would not be taking any decisions concerning the EAC before that.

Constantinou said the unions expected the minister to be “more convincing” on issues concerning the energy sector and consumers.

“We are totally disappointed, the strike is the only option,” he added.

Regarding power cuts during the strike, Constantinou said this would be the first time that half the employees at the Dhekelia power station would be striking and “we don’t know how many and which units the EAC will be operating with the other half”.

EAC chairman George Petrou told the Cyprus News Agency that the trade unions’ major concerns were over telecommunications authority Cyta entering the energy market and that Thursday’s strike was not over differences with the EAC but the state.