The end to Cyprus’ energy isolation starts on Friday, 14 October, with the launch of the construction work for the EuroAsia Interconnector. A ceremony will take place to mark the occasion in the presence of President of the Republic of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades and European Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson.
Director of the President’s Press Office, Andreas Iosif said in a press release, with the start of the construction work for the EuroAsia Interconnector, the road to Cyprus electrical connection with Greece and Israel begins.
The EuroAsia Interconnector comprises the electricity interconnection between the grids of Israel, Cyprus, Greece through a subsea DC cable and with HVDC onshore converter stations at each connection point, with a total capacity of 2000MW. It is a leading European Project of Common Interest (PCI) labelled as an EU “electricity highway” bridging Asia and Europe, with a total length of 1,208 km. It creates a reliable alternative route for the transfer of electric energy to and from Europe.
Its website notes the EuroAsia Interconnector enjoys a high rating by the European Union, falls within the EU energy policy and contributes to ending the Energy Isolation of Cyprus as an EU member state as Cyprus is the last member of the European Union which remains fully isolated without any electricity or gas interconnections.
It also creates an electricity highway from Israel-Cyprus, Greece (Europe) through which the European Union can securely be supplied with electricity produced by the gas reserves of Cyprus and Israel, as well as from the available Renewable Energy Sources (RES), contributing at the same time to the completion of the European Internal Market.
The EuroAsia Interconnector ensures the security of energy supply of the three involved countries and of the EU system altogether, through the integration of the isolated small systems of Cyprus and Crete with the Israeli and European networks and the uninterrupted – multidirectional flow of energy.
At the same time, it promotes the substantial development of the Renewable Energy Sources and contributes to the reduction of CO2 emissions and offers significant economic and geopolitical benefits to the involved countries as well as contributing to the target of the European Union for 10% of electricity interconnection between Member States and providing significant socio-economic benefits in the range of 10 billion euros.
EMGF – Energy Transition Conference
Additionally, on Friday at 0900, President Anastasiades will address the conference on “EMGF – Energy Transition Conference”, organized by Cyprus, on the occasion of the Presidency of the regional intergovernmental organization East Mediterranean Gas Forum (EMGF).
The aim of the conference is to underline the EMGF’s decisive role in efforts for cleaner energy and sustainable development. Cyprus, Egypt, Greece, Israel, France, Italy, Jordan and Palestine participate in the EMGF. The EU, the US and the World Bank will participate in the conference with an observer status.
President Anastasiades will also meet with Simson at 1130 on the same day.
The Council of the European Union has approved the allocation of a €100 mln grant to the EuroAsia Interconnector electricity interconnection as part of the Recovery and Resilience Plan for Cyprus to end the energy isolation of Cyprus.
Source: Cyprus News Agency