Diko leader calls on finance minister to resign over Great Sea Interconnector

Nicosia, Cyprus. Diko leader Nicholas Papadopoulos on Sunday called on Finance Minister Makis Keravnos to resign over his reservations about the planned Great Sea Interconnector linking the electricity grids of Cyprus, Greece and Israel.

Disagreement over project

Papadopoulos said there were still contradictions regarding the project, despite President Nikos Christodoulides stating that it would proceed.

He told Politis that Christodoulides had made clear that amounts the Republic of Cyprus is required to pay would be paid following Greece’s expected issuance of a navtex in the coming days.

The navtex is expected to warn ships of planned seabed surveys in the waters between Crete and Cyprus. Papadopoulos described Christodoulides’ commitment to pay the Greek government €25 million once it is issued as “an absolutely correct position”.

Benefits cited by Papadopoulos

Papadopoulos said the electrical interconnection would upgrade Cyprus geostrategically, provide electricity adequacy and reduce energy prices.

He said Keravnos continued to criticise the project without referring to studies or data supporting his position.

“Therefore, for us, a very serious question arises: why, according to the finance minister, is the president promoting a project which he believes will be disastrous for the country?” Papadopoulos said.

He asked why Keravnos had not resigned if he disagreed with the project to such an extent.

Keravnos’ concerns

Keravnos has been the least enthusiastic cabinet member regarding the interconnector. Earlier this month, he warned that the project could cost substantially more than the currently projected €1.9 billion and questioned whether it would reduce consumer electricity prices.

He had previously accused Greek Energy Minister Stavros Papastavrou of spreading “fake news” after Papastavrou said Keravnos did not show studies he claimed demonstrate that the project is not sustainable.

Keravnos said the studies had been commissioned by former Cypriot energy minister George Papanastasiou, properly delivered to the Greek energy ministry and sent to Papastavrou’s predecessor, Theodoros Skylakakis.