Cyprus And Greece Sign Framework To Advance Cyprus-Crete Electricity Interconnection

In a significant step toward regional energy collaboration, Cyprus and Greece have signed a Framework of Understanding to advance the long-anticipated Cyprus-Crete Electricity Interconnection. The agreement, reached following discussions between Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Athens, was formally signed on Friday, September 20, 2024, by Cypriot Energy Minister Giorgos Papanastasiou and Greek Energy Minister Theodore Skylakakis.

The interconnection project, which is expected to resume in the coming days, will link Cyprus’ national electricity grid with trans-European networks via Crete, marking a strategic milestone in the energy integration of the Eastern Mediterranean.

“This interconnection will remove Cyprus’ energy isolation and connect the island to Europe’s electricity grid,” stated the framework document, underscoring its significance not only for Cyprus and Greece but also for the broader European Union. The project aligns with both Cyprus’ energy transition goals and Greece’s ambitions to become a major clean energy transport corridor.

With approvals from regulatory authorities in both countries, the project is expected to facilitate the secure exchange of electricity and enhance regional energy security, while promoting the use of renewable energy resources.