The disclosure of correspondence between the Independent Anti-Corruption Authority and the Legal Service may, according to Energy Committee Chairman Nikos Georgiou, provide a response to the public controversy that erupted against the backdrop of the “black van” case. At the same time, Nikos Georgiou and Andreas Pasiourtidis sounded the alarm about the delays at Vasilikos and the consequences these may have for energy planning and electricity.
Speaking on the “Alpha News” program, Mr. Georgiou avoided taking a position on which of the two sides is right in the dispute, noting that the answer can be found in the documents themselves. “I am not in a position to say who is telling the truth and who is lying. Only one step needs to be taken: the Independent Anti-Corruption Authority must declassify the document it sent to the Attorney General,” he said. He added, “People come and go, but institutions remain,” emphasizing that the Authority has the right to launch a new investigation as long as no parallel criminal investigation is underway.
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For his part, Andreas Pasiourtides argued that, following the latest clarifications from the Legal Service, the Anti-Corruption Authority could proceed with an investigation into the matters concerning the Assistant Attorney General. “I would expect the Authority to announce today that my investigators are ready and that I am launching an investigation,” he said. At the same time, he announced that AKEL would reintroduce the issue of the “black van” in Parliament, noting that “while serving an institution, any public statements or actions they take have an impact on how the rule of law is perceived and how the public understands it.” As he characteristically stated, “I feel that the rule of law in Cyprus is currently bleeding to death.”
The discussion then turned to the natural gas terminal project in Vasilikos, following the Energy Committee’s on-site visit. Nikos Georgiou noted that specific timelines and cost estimates were requested, with the aim of ensuring continuous parliamentary oversight and accountability. According to the briefing received by the lawmakers, the plan calls for electricity generation from natural gas to begin in early 2029, and major companies have shown significant interest in completing the project. He, however, pointed out the main problem for the next contractor. “Which contractor will step up to take responsibility for the work of the previous contractor, who abandoned the project and walked away?” he asked, also referring to the condition of materials and infrastructure that have been left exposed for years.
Andreas Pasiourtides described the scene he encountered in Vasiliko even more vividly, saying he saw no substantial progress compared to his previous visit in 2024. “I didn’t see any difference. Nothing has been added; nothing has been fixed,” he said. As he explained, the technical assessment presented to the members of parliament did not conclude that the existing structures must be demolished, though it did not dispel the uncertainty regarding what the new contractor might find on site. At the same time, he spoke of an environment in which critical investment decisions by the EAC depend on when natural gas will become available, noting that the “Prometheus” costs approximately €400,000 per month as long as it remains in Malaysia, while arbitration in London has already, according to his statements, cost over €15 million.
A common thread in the statements of the two members of parliament was that the issue now goes beyond cost and directly affects the country’s energy security. Mr. Georgiou emphasized that “what must take priority above all else is not the cost, but the country’s energy sufficiency and security,” while Mr. Pasiourtidis criticized the lack of long-term energy planning and the delays in energy storage from renewable sources. As he warned, if the current course continues, “we will reach a point where someone will have to decide whether we will pay more for electricity just to have electricity.”
