ATHENS, Greece – Greece’s Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis announced Thursday that the ambitious electricity cable project connecting the power grids of Greece, Cyprus, and Israel remains on course for completion by the decade’s end, despite facing several setbacks.
The initiative, known as the Great Sea Interconnector, is making strides towards overcoming challenges. After discussions in Athens with Israeli and Cypriot counterparts Gideon Saar and Constantinos Kombos, Gerapetritis affirmed, “The Great Sea Interconnector will be completed as planned. We are taking steps to ensure there are no obstacles to its progress.”
This expansive project, valued at 1.9 billion euros ($2.06 billion), enjoys the support of European Union funding. It proposes to connect the power grids of the three Mediterranean countries through a submarine power cable, extending approximately 1,210 kilometers (750 miles) and reaching depths of up to 3,000 meters (9,800 feet) below sea level.
Significant challenges, such as financial disagreements and complications arising from maritime boundary disputes between Greece and Turkey, have plagued the project. Nevertheless, it is considered strategically critical as it aims to bolster energy security, facilitate the integration of renewable energy sources, and decrease dependency on fossil fuels.
“We recognize that interconnection projects are of critical importance for stability, energy security, and regional security,” Gerapetritis noted, emphasizing that the project holds significance not only for the immediate region but also for Europe as a whole.
