The Minister of Energy, Trade, and Industry of the Republic of Cyprus, Michalis Damianos, in an interview on ERTnews’s “LiveNow” program. As he noted, the issuance of the NAVTEX and the start of surveys are important steps toward advancing the project, and he assessed that the necessary conditions are in place for it to proceed as planned.
Michalis Damianos reiterated that the goal is to complete the electrical interconnection by the end of 2031, as previously stated by ADMIE, emphasizing that the timeline will depend on the progress of a complex project that requires time.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
Referring to the start of the survey work, he noted that the departure of the ship that will conduct the measurements was expected within the next few days, pointing out that it does not matter particularly whether this happens today, tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow. “What matters is that the project itself is moving forward,” he said, adding that the issuance of the NAVTEX and the start of the measurements are important steps toward its implementation.
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France’s role and European support
Michalis Damianos made special mention of France’s involvement and the support of the European Union, noting that France’s involvement is particularly significant, both because of French interests in the project and because of its broader European dimension.
As he explained, the European Union has allocated 658 million euros in funding for the project, a fact that demonstrates its importance to the European energy strategy. At the same time, he described France’s more active involvement as positive, expressing his satisfaction with the European positions in favor of promoting the interconnection.
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“There is coordination between Athens and Nicosia for all possible scenarios”
Regarding the diplomatic processes and Ankara’s latest statements, Mr. Damianos declined to comment on the Turkish side’s statements, noting that Nicosia is focused on implementing the project in accordance with agreed-upon procedures and international law.
He also pointed out that there is coordination between the Greek and Cypriot governments, which, he said, will continue in order to address all possible scenarios. He recalled that in 2025, a high-level meeting took place between the President of the Republic of Cyprus and the Greek Prime Minister, during which the next steps for continuing the project were agreed upon.
“There may be difficulties in the future, but we believe that coordination exists and will continue to exist for all eventualities,” he said, adding that the Cypriot side is satisfied with the progress made so far.
Energy Security and Interconnection with Israel
Beyond the geopolitical dimension, Michalis Damianos emphasized that the Greece–Cyprus electricity interconnection is, first and foremost, a project of strategic importance for the energy security of the Republic of Cyprus.
As he noted, its implementation will end Cyprus’s energy isolation, as it will be the country’s first electricity interconnection with another state. At the same time, it will lay the groundwork for the further expansion of the energy grid toward Israel and, through it, toward the broader Middle East region.
The Minister described the project as particularly important not only for Cyprus and Greece, but also for the European Union, Israel, and France, emphasizing that its completion serves broader energy interests.
Finally, he referred to the cooperation between Greece, Cyprus, Israel, and the United States within the framework of the “3+1” format, describing it as a key pillar of the region’s energy strategy. As he noted, this cooperation has the support of the U.S., and he expressed his satisfaction that the partners view the importance of the project in the same way as Athens and Nicosia.
Source: ertnews.gr
