Energy Workers' Union Threatens to Cut Off Ercan Airport's Electricity Supply

Representatives of the Cyprus Turkish Union of Electricity Workers (EL-SEN) arrived at Ercan Airport today to disconnect the transportation hub from its electricity supply. The energy workers are taking decisive action due to the airport's significant debts owed to the utility provider, KIB-TEK, which has promised to restructure the airport's outstanding debts.

According to local media reports, approximately 150 union members gathered near the Merich transformer substation, intending to fulfill their pledge to disconnect Ercan Airport from electricity. They are currently being prevented from doing so by police officers.

Union leader Ahmet Tugku stated that EL-SEN is cutting off electricity to Ercan due to an outstanding debt amounting to 92 million Turkish lira. Energy workers are dismayed by KIB-TEK's practice of threatening to disconnect electricity for debts as small as 675 TL from individual consumers while ignoring the airport's substantial debt.

Earlier this week, the union threatened to forcibly disconnect the airport from the electricity grid if the situation did not improve.

In a statement, EL-SEN emphasized that if the debts owed by the airport's management company, T&T, to KIB-TEK are not settled by June 13, decisive actions will commence on the following day, June 14.

In response, KIB-TEK attempted to resolve the issue by announcing that it would restructure Ercan Airport's debts.

"A meeting was held today with T&T officials regarding Ercan Airport's debts managed by T&T to the Cyprus Turkish Electricity Authority, and an agreement on debt restructuring was reached," the utility supplier's statement said.

However, the statement also emphasized that "there is no justification for disconnecting electricity at Ercan Airport, managed by T&T, especially given the airport's busy schedule ahead of the upcoming Kurban Bayram holiday."

"Ercan Airport is state-owned, and as the leadership of the Cyprus Turkish Electricity Authority, we assure you that everything necessary will be done, and this process will be carefully monitored," affirmed the energy workers.