Cyprus expects October navigation notice for Great Sea Interconnector surveys

Nicosia, Cyprus. Energy Minister Michael Damianos said on Thursday that a navtex would be issued by the end of October to alert mariners to planned seabed surveys along the Cyprus–Crete cable route for the Great Sea Interconnector (GSI). He also said the government would make its agreed €25 million payment to Admie now that the project was moving forward.

Survey notice expected within October

Speaking to CyBC radio, Damianos said the notice was expected over the coming days or weeks and would be issued within October at the latest. A navtex is a message conveying information to vessels at sea.

His remarks followed Wednesday’s announcement by the Greek coastguard that the French-flagged research vessel Abeille Marengo would undertake the surveys.

Damianos expressed satisfaction that work would begin in line with earlier agreements, saying progress on the project meant the government would release the payment to Greece’s independent power transmission operator, Admie, ahead of completion.

Payments and ownership changes

Under an agreement reached in 2024, Cyprus was to provide Admie with €25 million annually until completion. Admie then held full ownership of the interconnector, and the arrangement was intended to give the operator a reliable income during investment, before the project began generating profits.

The Cypriot government subsequently withheld the payments, citing an absence of progress towards completion last year.

French asset management firm Meridiam has since acquired a controlling 66 per cent interest in the project. The government expects the ownership change to accelerate completion.

Disputed waters pose questions

Uncertainty nevertheless remains over the surveys because the anticipated navtex is expected to cover waters claimed by both Greece and Turkey. Rival claims have previously obstructed survey work between Cyprus and Greece.

In 2024, Turkey deployed naval vessels after the Italian research ship Ievoli Reulme entered waters that Ankara considers Turkish.

The Turkish vessels escorted the research ship away from Turkey. Before that escort was completed, Greece also sent several naval vessels to the area, including the frigates Nikiforos Fokas and Aittitos.