Recently, Cypriot officials said that Cyprus and Israel are seeking to establish an electricity connection via a submarine

cable to eliminate the two countries’ respective energy isolation, and that the major infrastructure project would also

connect Greece.

Energy Minister George Papanastasiou said Israel is particularly interested in ensuring that it can rely on Cyprus’ reserves

of conventional and renewable energy to provide the country with electricity when needed.

Papanastasiou said Cyprus will soon have the ability to produce about 4GW of electricity from fossil fuels as well as solar

and wind power, while consuming only 0.5GW.

Wind and photovoltaic power can produce 1GW of electricity, but licenses have been issued to allow the construction of

new wind and solar power parks with a capacity of 2.8GW.

Conventional fuels generate 1.4GW.

Cypriot President Nicos Christodoulides and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held talks on Sunday (May 4) during

a one-day visit to Israel and Ramallah in the West Bank, confirming their mutual commitment to building an electricity cable link.

The two leaders said the power line would emphasize the two countries’ geographic position as a natural gateway between

Europe and the Middle East.

Given this geographical advantage, the two leaders agreed to pursue the potential benefits of a trade, energy and digital

connectivity corridor between India, the Middle East and Europe, Papanastasiou said.

The corridor, dubbed the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), was unveiled at the G20 summit of the world’s

leading rich and developing countries in India in 2023.

Netanyahu said he recently discussed the IMEC project with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying it was “a very

revolutionary and transformative development that we want to realize.”

Also, a power cable project connecting Greece and Cyprus has been launched. The €1.94 billion ($2.19 billion) Great Seas

Interconnector (GSI) project is being funded by the European Union with €800 million ($903 million) in funding.

The discussion also covered the possibility of the UAE’s participation in the transmission line project. Although the UAE’s

participation could further enhance the project’s regional influence, it is still under consideration.

Greece, Israel and Cyprus are determined to press ahead with the GSI, despite opposition from Turkey.

Greek grid operator IPTO is building the cable, a €1.9 billion project that will connect the European transmission network

to Cyprus and then extend it through the Mediterranean to Israel.

GSI, which connects Kofinou in Cyprus, Hadera in Israel, and Kolakias on the Greek island of Crete, is a Project of Major

Common Interest (PCI) for the European Union and a priority Electricity Superhighway Interconnector project for the

Energy Superhighway linking Asia and Europe.

Progress on the cable laying has been hampered by Turkey’s opposition to the cable route.

Turkey has stated that the project cannot proceed without its consent because the cable will cross waters it claims are

under its jurisdiction.

According to a memorandum signed with the interim Libyan government (the Government of National Unity) on

maritime areas, Turkey claims that the power line violates its rights. The Greek side considers this memorandum illegal.

Turkey has repeatedly opposed the project, with sources in the Turkish Defense Ministry calling the planned activities

“provocative” and accusing Greece and Cyprus of carrying out such activities without Turkey’s consent. The sources

also said that these efforts were driven by what they called “extremist ambitions”, were misguided and lacked the

necessary resources.