Front Page Headlines
Three more universities under examination
According to the The Higher Education Planning, Evaluation, Accreditation and Coordination Council (YODAK) has suspended permits for six universities in line with a new decision taken. Three other universities are being examined, decisions regarding their status will be determined on March 10.
- 254 million kilowatts exchanged between North and South over the past 13 years – Official figures released on the amount of electricity bought and sold between the two sides.
- Erhürman: “CTP will be nominating its own candidate for presidential elections”
Theatre and cinema a luxury for youth
Many young individuals speak to the paper about how expensive theatre and cinema are in the country and how few such venues are there.
- Akıncı not convincing – Former president Derviş Eroğlu criticized Akıncı for insisting on federation.
- Federation [model] collapsed – National Unity Party (UBP) leader Ersin Tatar reiterated his points on the federal solution once again.
HIV positive individuals suffer many problems
HIV/AIDS Initiative spoke to Kıbrıs reporter regarding the problems faced by HIV positive individuals in the North.
- Akıncı working on GSM deal – Akıncı held a meeting at the presidential palace with representatives of GSM companies in the north.
- Six construction permits suspended –Labour department intensified its inspections.
Middle East Technical University (METU) report is made up
TC Electricity Company (KIBTEK) Board finds METU report on power generator tender unrealistic and insists to carry out an international tender process.
- No to public deformation – 12 trade unions object to the public reform bill claiming the bill will only result in deformation and not in any reforms.
- Republican Turkish Party (CTP) to run with own candidate – Erhürman announced that CTP will have its own candidate for the presidential elections.
Ending the problem
Naimoğluları (President of Livestock Breeders Association) says livestock farmers have lost hope from raising livestock and demands that 3,000 of the 5,000 thousand livestock breeders be made public sector employees.
- The Greek Cypriots love it – A bundle of Ayrelli (wild asparagus) costs one Euro in the North and four Euros in the South.
Community’s most critical election
Calculations have begun for the 2020 presidential elections. While Mustafa Akıncı said it was too early to talk, Tufan Erhürman announced that CTP will nominate its own candidate.
- Yasemin Movement to hold a press conference – The Yasemin Movement announces it will hold a press conference on Tuesday, 5March, regarding its six candidates who will run for the European Parliament.
- Refugee flow from North to South – Greek Cypriot police arrest a Turkish Cypriot trying to smuggle illegal immigrants to South Cyprus.
Main News
254 million kilowatts exchanged between North-South in past 13 years
Yenidüzen
Energy, CBMs
OVERVIEW
Following the agreement reached by the two leaders to implement the confidence-building measure (CBM) to permanently integrate the electricity grids, Yenidüzen in an exclusive story reports that a total amount of 254 million kilowatts of electricity have been bought and sold between the sides in the past 13 years. Starting in 2006, the Turkish Cypriot side purchased 41 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity, seven kWh in 2016, 11 kWh in 2017 and 20 kWh in 2018. No electricity was purchased from the South between 2007-2010 and 2013-2015.
The Greek Cypriot side first purchased electricity from the North in 2011; 139 kWh to be exact, followed by 28 kWh in 2012, four kWh in 2016, eight in 2017 and six kWh in 2018.
The General Director of the Turkish Cypriot Electricity Authority (KIB-TEK) Kamil Direl said that interconnectivity has advantages for both sides.
He said that temporary interconnectivity has existed between the two sides since 11August, 2016, through short-term contracts and arrangements.
Direl said that the two electricity authorities will no longer need to sign contracts once the interconnectivity becomes permanent.
Any long-term exchange of electricity due to failures in the power stations on either side will be solved through net settling.
Direl listed the advantages of interconnectivity:
- It reduces the fragility or vulnerability of grids, allowing systems to operate with higher quality and stability
- It increases the reliability of the power supply. So, if a major breakdown occurred in the power station on one side, then the load would be transferred to the healthy power station on the other side, thereby always allowing for uninterrupted power supply to consumers.
- It allows for more efficient and economical production. In interconnected systems, the efficiency of plants is increased and the cost of power generation is reduced.
- Last but not least, it allows renewable energy sources to be used more efficiently.
The KIB-TEK Director also said that a third line, possibly in the Famagusta region, connecting the two grids could be introduced in the future.
GSM connection via Europe
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
CBMs
OVERVIEW
President Mustafa Akıncı called members of the Information Technology and Communication Board, representatives of the GSM companies in the north and the Turkish Cypriot members of the Technical Committee on Commerce and Economy for a meeting on GSM interoperability via a hub in Europe.
Akıncı shared the framework of the agreement on the relevant CBM with the participants, in addition to discussing the next steps on measures that will facilitate the GSM operators’ technical linkage with each other.
Officials and GSM operators confirmed that the Greek Cypriot side has agreed to the Turkish Cypriot side’s proposal of 2015, thus leaving no technical obstacles to the implementation of mobile interoperability.