Surveys for the electricity cable that will connect Cyprus to Europe are continuing south of the Greek island of Karpathos, with the €1.94 billion project now expected to be completed at the end of 2031. The European Union is contributing €657 million to the interconnector, which is considered a project of strategic importance for Cyprus, both for its energy security and for lowering the cost of electricity. According to Greek public broadcaster ERT, the French research vessel Abeille Marengo carried out seabed surveys south of Karpathos for a third consecutive day, following the route set out in the relevant Navtex. Calm prevails in the area, with the Greek frigate Limnos remaining close to the research ship. At the same time, a Turkish frigate is present in the wider sea area monitoring the vessel’s movements while keeping a considerable distance, ERT reported.
Gerapetritis’ message to Ankara
Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis sent a clear message to Turkey, stressing that Athens will not accept any interference in the implementation of the interconnector. Speaking at an international strategic forum in Iraqi Kurdistan, he referred to earlier incidents of Turkish interference and underlined that the project is of European importance. “We have made it clear that this project is of European importance and we will not tolerate any kind of interference,” he said. For Cyprus, the developments around the cable are directly linked to its energy autonomy as well as to the geopolitical balance in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Timeline and funding
The Crete–Cyprus interconnector is scheduled for completion at the end of 2031. The project is around 898 kilometres long, with a capacity of 1,000 megawatts and a total budget of €1.94 billion, of which €657 million is covered by the EU through the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF). The interconnector has been designated an EU Project of Common Interest. Despite technical challenges, mainly linked to sea depths that reach 3,000 metres at certain points, the project is moving forward step by step. According to the latest ten-year development plan of Greece’s Independent Power Transmission Operator (IPTO) for 2027–2036, a contract has already been signed for the cable section and around 60% of the marine surveys have been completed. A preferred contractor has also been selected for the construction of the converter stations, with a new station planned in Cyprus and an expansion of the existing station at Damasta on Crete.
What it means for consumers in Cyprus
A study by the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki estimates that the interconnector will deliver a total annual benefit of €123 million to €138 million to electricity consumers, with most of it expected to be felt in Cyprus. In particular, wholesale electricity prices in Cyprus could fall by €21.5 per megawatt-hour, or around 19%, bringing them closer to the levels of the Greek market.
The next step: Israel
The Crete–Cyprus link is the first leg of a broader plan that also foresees connecting Cyprus to Israel. The second section is around 310 kilometres long, and its feasibility study has been completed with positive results. Its implementation could further strengthen energy security in the region while enabling greater use of renewable energy sources. Completing the link with Greece would end the energy isolation of Cyprus, which remains the last EU member state not connected to the European electricity transmission system.
Political reactions in Greece
The interconnector and Greek-Turkish relations are also at the centre of political debate in Greece. Gerapetritis is holding successive briefings with political party leaders on foreign policy, while the opposition is calling for more information and transparency on the government’s handling. Pasok leader Nikos Androulakis stressed the need for national unity in the face of revisionism, while KKE general secretary Dimitris Koutsoumbas expressed reservations about the government’s handling and Turkey’s use of related documents. Syriza renewed its call for a Council of Political Leaders to be convened and for the verbal notes exchanged to be made public. Greek Solution leader Kyriakos Velopoulos and former prime minister Antonis Samaras also voiced criticism.
