Cyprus Ministry of Defence has secured, through EU structural funds and in particular the Thalia Programme, €19 million to fund the installation of photovoltaic systems in National Guard camps, as part of its environmental and energy policy, pointing out that it is one of the largest and most energy-intensive organisations on the island.

The total capacity of these systems is estimated at approximately 12 MW, the Ministry said in a press release on Friday.

The project will start in early 2023 and is expected to be completed in 2027.

The installation and operation of the photovoltaic systems is part of the general effort by the state to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and will contribute 2.5% to the capacity of the photovoltaic systems that the Republic of Cyprus should install by 2030.

So far, the Ministry added, a system has been installed for the proper management of waste, for energy saving and for the reduction of environmental pollution in six army camps.

Measures have also been taken to reduce the generation of waste at military camps, as well as measures for the proper management and disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous waste.

The Defence Ministry, following a decision by the Cabinet, has entered into an agreement with the Electricity Authority for the replacement, with LED type lamps, of almost all energy-consuming external lighting lamps located in National Guard camps.

The first phase of the project has been completed with the replacement of 2,200 energy-consuming lamps in 14 camps, while by the end of the year the replacement of another 4,400 will begin.