Μake us preferred on Google A senior Greek government official has indicated that the Great Sea Interconnector (GSI) project is moving toward implementation, stressing that the planned electricity link between Greece and Cyprus should be treated as a strategic energy project for the Eastern Mediterranean rather than a source of geopolitical confrontation.
The official told financial news outlet OT.gr that this was also the rationale behind France’s decision to send Turkey a note verbale informing it of the planned seabed surveys, following the issuance of a NAVTEX maritime notice on Friday, November 6.
Diplomatic Consultations Ahead of the Surveys
Diplomatic consultations are continuing to ensure that the French-flagged Abeille Marengo, chartered by project contractor Nexans, can begin its work without incident.
Greek officials have expressed cautious optimism that the surveys can proceed safely. Discussions are expected to intensify over the next 48 hours, ahead of the vessel’s departure from the port of Heraklion, Crete.
An official involved in the operation told OT.gr that the surveys had been assigned the code name “Calm Waters,” reflecting the aim of avoiding tensions when the vessel enters international waters beyond Karpathos.
Seabed Surveys for the Great Sea Interconnector
The Abeille Marengo is expected to depart Heraklion on Tuesday, November 10, or Wednesday, November 11.
The vessel will initially calibrate its survey equipment. Once the tests are completed successfully, it will deploy echo-sounding instruments to map the seabed and identify a suitable route for laying the submarine power cable. The bathymetric surveys will extend from southeast of Karpathos to a point 12 nautical miles off Cyprus and are expected to last four months.
About 60% of the marine surveys along the planned Greece-Cyprus route have already been completed. The work was interrupted off Kasos in 2024.
Next Steps for the Greece-Cyprus Interconnector
The next operational and regulatory milestone is the release of €25 million by Cyprus under an agreement with Greece. Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides recently said in a television interview that the payment would be made upon issuance of the NAVTEX maritime notice.
Completion of the seabed surveys is also expected to open the way for additional financing from the European Investment Bank (EIB). According to OT.gr, the bank is reviewing the project’s technical and financial details as it considers providing approximately €1 billion in financing.
Source: OT.gr
