Demetriou urges government to commit to Great Sea Interconnector

Nicosia, Cyprus. House president Annita Demetriou on Wednesday called on the government to abandon its current policy of “ambivalence, doublespeak, and inertia” over the Great Sea Interconnector, describing the project as being of paramount importance.

She said recent international interest in the project underscored its energy and geopolitical significance for Cyprus.

International interest

Demetriou said the entry of strong international investment interests, interest in an interconnection between Cyprus and Israel, and more active involvement by Greece, France and the United States highlighted the project’s broader importance and prospects.

Her comments followed French asset management firm Meridiam taking a controlling stake in the interconnector project last month.

She said recent developments had confirmed that the Great Sea Interconnector could secure Cyprus’ energy supply and substantially upgrade the country’s position on the region’s energy and geopolitical map.

Call for strategic commitment

Demetriou said the Cypriot government’s policy should move “from the level of ambivalence, doublespeak, and inertia, to the level of strategic commitment”.

She added that energy policy was a leading pillar of both development prospects and national security, and said energy consumption in Cyprus would increase dramatically in the coming years.

Previous energy plan

Demetriou said that when Disy was in government under former president Nicos Anastasiades between 2013 and 2023, a comprehensive energy plan was designed.

According to Demetriou, the plan included increasing the contribution of renewable energy sources, bringing natural gas to Cyprus, creating storage infrastructure and promoting the electricity interconnection project.

She said she had welcomed statements in 2023 that the current government would adopt the overall plan, including statements made in parliament and elsewhere.

However, she said that three and a half years later, that satisfaction had turned into “concern and disappointment”.