Cyprus Face EU Penalties For CO2 Emissions of up to €20 Million Per Year

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Whilst Cyprus continues to use polluting heavy fuel oil for its power grids and renewable energy generation is low, its failure to meet its EU commitment to generate 6% of its total energy from renewable energy by 2010 and 13% by 2020 will lead to fines  from the EU of up to €20 million per year.
 
Cyprus Energy Regulatory Authority chairman Costas Ioannou is however optimistic that Cyprus could meet its EU commitment.
 
He is holding talks with Egypt and Algeria regarding the supply of liquid natural gas as Cyprus tries to reduce its reliance on heavy fuel oils.
 
Ioannou commented that Cyprus is part of a small isolated system using heavy fuel oil for the generation of all its electricity.

Cyprus is not expected to start using liquid natural gas until around 2013. However, Ioannou said that if  wind farms could be introduced, Cyprus could still achieve the EU deadline of 6% by 2010.
   
The authorities have already issued permits for wind parks. It is hoped that two or three wind parks will be in operation next year which would cover the 6% of renewable energy required.