Politis

Cyprus Committed to Addressing Energy Poverty

Published March 20, 2026, 17:21
Cyprus Committed to Addressing Energy Poverty

The Director-General of the Ministry of Energy, Commerce and Industry, Kyriakos Iordanou, expressed Cyprus' commitment to tackling energy poverty at the annual conference of the Energy Poverty Advisory Hub in Athens. He emphasized that energy poverty remains a significant socio-economic challenge in Europe, affecting approximately 42 million people and requiring coordinated solutions. The Cypriot Presidency of the EU Council has prioritized energy poverty for a just energy transition. Mr. Iordanou presented the government's measures to support vulnerable consumers, such as the Special Domestic Tariff (code 08) which offers reduced electricity prices to over 30,000 households, as well as grant schemes for energy upgrades covering a significant percentage of the cost. Additionally, he mentioned individual support measures, such as funding for the installation of photovoltaic systems and the replacement of old household appliances. Cyprus has set a target to reduce energy poverty by 10% by 2030, through the National Energy and Climate Plan. Finally, Mr. Iordanou referred to the upcoming National Governance System for Energy Poverty, which will strengthen monitoring, coordination and local support through the creation of a National Observatory and Local Energy Hubs. He also highlighted the importance of the EU's resilience to geopolitical instability and the role of energy communities in providing clean energy.