The final National Energy and Climate Plan sets an indicative target to reduce energy poverty by 10% until 2030, Minister of Energy, Commerce and Industry, Michalis Damianos, said Tuesday, addressing a conference on combating energy poverty, that was held at the Nicosia Municipality.
“Our policies to address energy poverty are being strengthened and evolved, with specific goals and measures that aim to curb energy costs, upgrade the energy efficiency of homes, and enhance access to clean and affordable energy for energy-poor households,” he stressed.
The Minister pointed out that the National Energy and Climate Plan estimates that energy poverty in Cyprus affects nearly 15% of the country’s households. He expressed need to “further strengthen our policies, improve the targeting of support measures, and ensure that no affected household is left behind.”
The Government, he went on to say, remains committed to strengthening policies that ensure access to affordable energy becomes a reality for all citizens.
“Our goal is an energy transition that combines environmental sustainability with social justice and the protection of those fellow citizens who are most in need.”
Furthermore, the Minister said that the new European Energy Efficiency Directive mandates that, by 2030, 15.1% of the total national cumulative energy savings target for final energy consumption must be achieved through energy efficiency measures implemented for households affected by energy poverty, low-income households, vulnerable customers, and individuals living in social housing.
“Achieving these goals requires coordinated action, the effective utilization of available financial instruments, and a systematic evaluation of the outcomes of our policies,” he said.
The Minister noted that, in this regard, 2026 serves as a significant milestone for Cyprus, since the institutional framework for addressing energy poverty is being substantially strengthened.
In his remarks, Mayor of Athens, Haris Doukas, said that the construction of the electrical interconnection cable (Great Sea Interconnector) between Cyprus and Greece would address energy poverty in Cyprus. He added that this electrical interconnection would lead to a 19% reduction in electricity prices in Cyprus.
He also noted that the total annual savings resulting from the electrical interconnection would amount to as much as 138 million euro for consumers in Greece and Cyprus.
The project, he added, would bring stability to the power system, allow for greater penetration of renewable energy sources and facilitate the import of cheaper electricity. Concluding he said that Cyprus remains the last non-interconnected EU member state.
Meanwhile, Mayor of Nicosia, Charalampos Prountzos, said that local authorities play a decisive role in efforts to address energy poverty, adding that the Municipality of Nicosia has developed specific policy proposals.
“We are closer to the citizens, we understand the needs of local communities, and we can make a substantial contribution to identifying and supporting energy-vulnerable households,” he stressed.
The Mayor added the Municipality has already proposed the establishment of a “One-Stop Shop” for energy poverty. This office, he explained, would operate in coordination with the Municipality’s social services, providing information, guidance, energy-related consulting, and support for accessing grant schemes and financial instruments.