Üstel urges end to political barriers to clean energy

In a written statement issued in connection with the COP31 climate conference in Antalya, hosted by Türkiye, Üstel highlighted two planned projects linking North Cyprus with Türkiye. One would connect their electricity grids through an undersea cable, while the other would bring natural gas to the island by pipeline.

Üstel said the cable would allow North Cyprus to import electricity from Türkiye and help make supplies more reliable. He said that, with a supply of low-carbon electricity, the connection would also allow more power from local renewable sources, particularly solar, to feed into the grid.

The proposed gas pipeline would allow power stations to switch from fuel oil to natural gas, Üstel said. He said the switch was intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution from electricity generation.

“The Turkish Cypriot people’s right to live in a healthy environment and have access to clean energy cannot be overshadowed by debates over political recognition,” he said.

Üstel argued that blocking cleaner energy options on political grounds ran counter to the aims of the Paris Agreement. He said restrictions that prolonged reliance on higher-emission electricity generation had consequences beyond North Cyprus, because the resulting emissions added to the global problem the agreement seeks to address.

He also linked reliable electricity supplies to the day-to-day running of hospitals, the provision of drinking water and the ability of businesses to keep operating. Households, he said, needed electricity they could rely on and afford.

Üstel said the projects should be assessed on the carbon footprint of imported electricity, the emissions savings from switching to gas, the impact on marine ecosystems and the cost to consumers. He called for greater international technical and environmental cooperation and said Turkish Cypriots should be included in COP31 efforts to expand clean energy and modernise electricity grids.