Cyprus electricity authority employees hold 24-hour strike

Employees of the Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC) began a 24-hour nationwide strike at midnight on April 22, which is scheduled to end at midnight tonight. The industrial action resulted in the closure of all EAC customer service centers and offices across the island. Despite the closure, the EAC confirmed that critical infrastructure remains operational, and a safety staffing plan has been implemented to ensure an uninterrupted electricity supply. Customers are advised to utilize digital platforms, mobile applications, banking channels, or post offices for bill payments, while new connections and account transfers can be requested via email. This protest follows a meeting held on Tuesday between trade union representatives and Energy Minister Michalis Damianos regarding concerns over energy policy, supply adequacy, and rising costs. Union leaders, including Kyriacos Tafounas, expressed disappointment with the lack of immediate solutions and have not ruled out further escalation of their measures. The government maintains that energy sector challenges require long-term coordination, with specific plans for station upgrades at Dhekelia not expected to be completed before 2028-2030.