A new proposal in Cyprus parliament is causing much discussion. The plan is to let Cyta, the state's phone company, start working in the energy sector. However, some important companies in the energy market are not happy. They say it could create unfair competition.
Giorgos Chrysochos, who leads the Electricity Market Association, strongly opposes the idea. He thinks Cyta's strong position in phones will give it an unfair advantage in energy. He believes this will make it hard for private companies to compete fairly. He called state monopolies a "curse."
The Regulatory Authority for Energy (RAEК) also has concerns. They mentioned possible legal problems and market changes. RAEК wrote a letter saying that ATHK, the current electricity company, is very powerful. If ATHK works with Cyta, it could create big market problems. Therefore, the lawfulness of this needs careful study.
The proposed law is now with a parliamentary committee. It wants to allow Cyta to enter the electricity market. Many industry players are worried about this. RAEК also said more talks are needed with other government bodies. The parliament will have more meetings on this soon.
The reason for Cyta's possible entry is to help the public and consumers. This is different from private companies wanting to make more profit. If the law passes and Cyta gets licenses, it might bring good competition for customers. However, many people suggest being careful. They want to protect the market and ensure fair competition for everyone. More information is expected soon.