Greece announced that the developer of an EU-supported undersea power cable project, the Great Sea Interconnector (GSI), has applied for a license to resume seabed surveying. This project aims to connect the European mainland to Cyprus and eventually Israel, but Turkey opposes it. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed strong US support for the project during his visit to Athens, citing the need for energy supply diversification due to ongoing global issues. The project’s cost is estimated at €1.9 billion ($2.13 billion), and the Greek power grid operator IPTO ADMr.AT is leading its development, with French company Nexans as the cable contractor.
The project has faced delays due to disputes between Greece and Turkey over maritime zones for the cable’s route. Turkey insists that coordination is necessary as the area overlaps with a 2019 maritime agreement with Libya, which Greece disputes. The survey will be conducted by a French ship once approved by the relevant Greek authorities. Rubio stated that the US would use diplomatic channels to address any obstacles in the project’s path.
With information from Reuters
