It is estimated that the new bathymetric surveys in the maritime area of Crete-Cyprus for the Athens-Nicosia power interconnection, provided there are no obstacles or disruptions to the progress of the French research vessel “Abeille Marengo.”
At the same time, serious questions remain regarding both the route the cable for the Great Sea Interconnector will follow and the project’s financing, with costs and securing the necessary funds being decisive factors for its implementation.
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Speaking on the Alpha News program, Constantinos Hatzistassou, a professor in the Department of Energy at the University of Nicosia, explained that the new research mission aims primarily to improve the mapping of the seabed in order to clarify sections of the route where there are gaps in previous measurements.
As he noted, the great depth of the sea at certain points, particularly in the area south of Crete, makes it necessary to further investigate certain regions. In fact, it is possible that measurements will need to be repeated at specific points in order to gather all the necessary data for determining the cable route.
According to him, this particular vessel does not appear to be equipped to conduct geotechnical surveys, but its mission focuses primarily on mapping the seabed and collecting the necessary data to select the most suitable route. Depending on the findings, additional sampling from the seabed may also be required.
The Issue of the Cypriot EEZ and Turkey’s Stance
Mr. Hatzistassou made special mention of the issue that may arise when the research vessel enters the Cypriot Exclusive Economic Zone, noting that there is no demarcated EEZ between Cyprus and Greece.
As he pointed out, this specific issue is expected to resurface, as the relevant coordinates should have been submitted to the United Nations. He also noted that, although preparatory work has been carried out by the Greek side, it remains to be seen how the protection of the research vessel will be ensured during the course of the operations.
Referring to Turkey’s stance, the professor assessed that Turkey is not expected to block the project or hinder the seismic surveys, as such action would have serious consequences for Turkey itself. He noted, however, that Turkey’s reactions may be linked to an effort to secure concessions, such as more favorable treatment for Turkey in the European SAFE funding program for strategic equipment.
Regarding diplomatic moves, he noted that the French side appears to have made a diplomatic démarche to Turkey, clarifying that this does not amount to a request for approval to carry out the work.
At the same time, he recalled that the surveys had continued in 2024, prior to the incidents of harassment in the Kasos area, when the Italian research vessel “Ievoli Relume” had faced Turkish interference.
READ ALSO: Anti-Navtex from the Republic of Cyprus regarding the GSI pipeline following Turkey’s Navtex
Latest updates on the route in less than a month
Provided that work proceeds smoothly, Mr. Hatzistassou estimates that the survey mission will take less than a month to complete its work. The exact timeline, however, will depend on the pace of the investigations and the findings that emerge.
Specifically, in areas where geological anomalies are identified and further testing is required, additional studies and geotechnical sampling may be necessary.The new data will be combined with the information that has already been collected and processed to determine the final route the cable will follow.
Electronic Systems and Costs
In addition to seabed surveys, the construction of the infrastructure necessary for the operation of the electrical interconnection also raises concerns.
As the professor explained, power electronics are of particular importance— that is, the stations that convert electricity from direct current to alternating current and vice versa. In this particular sector, there are significant delays in delivery times, partly due to the increased demand caused by the war in Ukraine.
At the same time, the cost of the cable is a major issue, as prices for raw materials—particularly copper—have risen, as have the costs of electronic installations.
According to the report, ADMIE has requested that the CERA recognize expenses totaling approximately 302 million euros, while the Authority has recognized 82 million euros. At the same time, there is mention of an amount in the range of 25 million euros that is expected to be paid by the Cypriot side to move the project to the next stage.
Funding Remains a Major Question Mark
Despite the progress expected in the research phase, Mr. Hatzistassou noted that the most important issue for the implementation of the GSI remains securing funding.
As he noted, relevant developments are expected from the Ministry of Finance and the European Central Bank, in order to assess the project’s viability and determine whether the necessary funds can be secured.
According to him, ADMIE does not currently appear to have the financial resources required to cover the total cost, which is estimated at 1.94 billion euros. Despite 657 million euros in funding from European sources, there remains a significant funding gap.
Given these circumstances, he described securing the necessary funds as crucial for advancing the power interconnection, noting that even the final route of the cable has not yet been determined.
With a target date of 2032
Regarding the project’s completion timeline, the professor agreed that a connection by 2031 is feasible, though he expressed the view that a more realistic milestone would be 2032.
As he pointed out, there is still quite some time until then, and significant issues remain to be resolved, both in terms of financing and the construction of the necessary infrastructure.
In closing, he also raised the question of what will happen in the meantime regarding the energy challenges facing Cyprus, expressing the hope that at least the first major obstacle to the project’s implementation—concerning exploration in the Kasos area—will be overcome.
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