Brussels, Belgium. Nexans said it successfully completed an undersea trial of the cable intended for the Great Sea Interconnector linking the energy grids of Greece, Cyprus and Israel. The company said the installation and testing at 3,000 metres set a new world record.
Deep-water trial results
Nexans said that after recovery of the cable, electrical testing and visual inspection confirmed the integrity of the cable system and its ability to perform under extreme deep-water conditions.
Schedule renegotiation and Cyprus response
Nexans earlier this year formally acknowledged that the delivery schedule for the cables is being renegotiated, pushing the planned completion date into the next decade. Cyprus Energy Minister Michael Damianos said the project “will not collapse”.
European Commission support
European Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen said the European Commission will provide “strong political and technical support” for the interconnector, including dedicated events and high-level discussions, as well as additional engagement on geopolitical issues.
Jorgensen said Cyprus is currently the only European Union member state not connected to the continent’s interconnected energy grid, which he said limits its integration into the internal energy market and makes it difficult to integrate renewable energy sources. He said the project’s progress has been affected by a complex geopolitical context, with implications for timetables and costs.
Cyprus-Greece discussions
Attention has focused on the interconnection of Cyprus and Greece, with the two governments having appeared to be at odds in recent months. Damianos said they now have “a common line on this specific issue”, which he said was established during a brief discussion with his Greek counterpart Stavros Papastavrou on the sidelines of the EU transport, telecommunications and energy council meeting in Brussels in December.
What impact do you think delays and geopolitical issues could have on energy connectivity between Cyprus and the European grid?
