10 January, 2025IndustriALL Global Union affiliate, the Turkish Electricity Authority of Cyprus Workers Union (El-Sen), is campaigning for a democratic energy policy in Northern Cyprus, advocating for sustainability and safety under public control.
Opposing the privatization of the Cyprus Turkish Electricity Agency (KIB-TEK), El-Sen calls for its transformation into an autonomous body. The union argues that energy policies should prioritize scientific expertise over political interests and insists on the urgent enactment of the autonomy bill, which has languished in Parliament for years.
KIB-TEK is responsible for the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity in Northern Cyprus, operating under existing electricity laws. All KIB-TEK employees are members of El-Sen. Meanwhile, Aksa Energy, a private producer, supplies about half of the region’s energy needs but lacks union representation.
El-Sen has raised concerns about the commercialization of energy, including importing electricity from Turkey via cable, citing rising costs for consumers and mismanagement within KIB-TEK. The union has criticized political leaders for inadequate investment in renewable energy, crucial for the region’s future.
At the Sustainable energy policies and autonomous energy management from a global union perspective conference in Nicosia on 25 December, IndustriALL reaffirmed its support for El-Sen.
IndustriALL assistant general secretary Kemal Özkan said:
"Energy is a basic need and a public good. Its production and distribution must be governed by public policies in the public interest. Our solidarity with El-Sen remains strong."
El-Sen President Ahmet Tuğcu stressed that:
"IndustriALL’s backing strengthens our resolve in this struggle."
Following a general strike on 26 December, which brought Northern Cyprus to a standstill, the government withdrew the contested bills, marking a significant victory for the unions.