Upgrading projects at Vasilikos Power Station
Protection of the environment is one of our main priorities, as outlined in the EAC Strategy. For the sake of transparency and for the provision of continuous information to the residents of the communities adjacent to Vasilikos Power Station (PS), EAC wishes to inform on the following:
Air quality around the Vasilikos PS
The air quality around Vasilikos Power Station is measured and evaluated 24/7, in real time, using both the specialized mobile units for environmental measurements of EAC and of the Department of Labour Inspection. These units are located in the villages of Zygi, Kalavasos and Mari.
The results of these environmental measurements are available online and may be found on the website of the Department of Labour Inspection, under Air Quality (https://www.airquality.dli.mlsi.gov.cy/el). Any citizen can visit and monitor this webpage at any time. The results indicate that the environmental measurements are within the limits set by the European Commission.
Installation of Environmental Protection Systems
As part of our strategy to achieve the continuous emission reduction and in compliance with the requirements of the Organization's Environmental Management System, and also the relevant directives and regulations of the European Commission, EAC has installed environment protection systems in Steam Units 1, 2 & 3 of Vasilikos Power Station, which include dust retention, Nitrogen Oxides emission reductionsystems as well as desulfurization systems.
Current situation
The above systems have been installed during the last 3 years, in the Boilers of Steam Units 1, 2 and 3. They consist of Nitrogen Oxides emission reduction systems and desulphurization systems. Work has also been done to improve the performance of previously installed electrostatic precipitators to reduce the emitted solid dust particles. Unfortunately, there have been several technical issues with the Nitrogen Oxides emission reduction systems which have also affected the operation of other auxiliary systems of the Boilers. As a result, they are temporarily out of service.
EAC contacted the manufacturing companies of the Boilers of the Steam Units 1, 2 and 3 and will immediately proceed with the assignment of contracts for the execution of the required corrective actions, as per the companies' recommendations.
The color of the smoke explained
The white-coloured smoke coming out of the chimneys of Boilers 1 and 2 is due to an excess of combustion air/oxygen during periods of sharp load reduction, and to an excess of water vapor contained in the flue gas, due to steam presence in several parts of the Boiler systems; it may also be due to the absorption of atmospheric air in theexhaust system operating under low pressure.
At times, dark-coloured smoke is also observed coming out of the chimneys of Boilers 1-3. This is normal and part of how the Boilers work. It occurs either when there is a sudden load increase in a generating unit (due to an unexpected shutdown of some other conventional generating unit or when there is a sudden reduction in the generation of Renewable Energy Systems), or during the sootblowing process in the three Boilers. It is noted that the levels of emissions observed, even when the emission reduction technologies are out of service due to technical issues, are similar to those observed prior to their installation.
Quality of fuel used by EAC
At EAC, it is standard practice to thoroughly test fuels upon arrival at the Vasilikos Power Station, both by EAC itself and by an independent, internationally accredited laboratory to ensure that they are always in line with the required technical specifications.
Timetable for repairing the systems
The desulfurization facilities in Boilers 1, 2 and 3 have already been completed while the completion of the Nitrogen Oxides Reduction Systems works is gradually achieved for all units, following a specific binding schedule which starts in Autumn 2022 and it is to be completed in three stages as follows:
Unit 1: Spring 2023
Unit 2: Fall 2023
Unit 3: Spring 2024
August 2022
