Cyprus and Israel aim for swift implementation of undersea electric cable connection, met with opposition from Turkey.
"Powering the Mediterranean: Cyprus and Israel's Undersea Energy Alliance"
Gavin Blackburn | AP | Twitter
Hey folks! Let's talk about some exciting news happening in the Mediterranean. Cyprus and Israel are cooking up a plan to join forces and establish an undersea electricity cable connection—a move that'll put an end to their energy independence woes.
The vision was clear during a major powwow between Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The meeting, held in Israel and Ramallah, West Bank, confirmed the shared commitment to this electrifying project.
So, what's the big deal? Well, with this cable, both nations aim to draw upon each other's energy reserves (conventional, renewable, you name it) to keep their countries humming—a lifesaver should one ever need it. According to Cyprus Energy Minister George Papanastasiou, the Mediterranean island nation will soon be able to produce a whopping 4GW of power from various sources while only consuming a fraction of that (0.5GW). That leaves plenty of juice for Israel!
The cable project isn't just about electricity, though. It's also about showcasing our geographical location as the natural link between Europe and the Middle East. In fact, Christodoulides and Netanyahu have agreed to pursue benefits from establishing a trade, energy, and digital connectivity corridor between India, the Middle East, and Europe—an initiative called the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). IMEC aims to reduce energy isolation, create a critical infrastructure corridor, and foster regional cooperation.
Speaking of regional cooperation, Greece is no slouch when it comes to electricity cable projects! A €1.94 billion electricity cable project linking Greece to Cyprus (the Great Seas Interconnector) is already underway, with the European Union footing a significant portion of the bill (€800 million). However, the project's progress has been held back due to Turkish objections over the cable's route. Turkey claims that the project can't proceed without its consent, as the cable would pass through waters it claims fall within its jurisdiction.
Stay tuned for updates on this energy-packed partnership!
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🔺 Israel 🔺 Cyprus 🔺 undersea cable 🔺 electricity*
Sources:[1] Turkey claims objections threaten undersea electric link with Cyprus, Al Jazeera, Mar 7, 2023.[2] Israel, Greece to link electricity grids in effort to boost security, Reuters, Mar 1, 2023.
- In an effort to strengthen their energy security, Cyprus and Israel are planning to link up via an undersea electricity cable, aiming to leverage each other's energy reserves and potentially produce up to 4GW of power.
- This undersea cable project not only promises to alleviate energy independence issues for both nations but also serves as a political move to establish a trade, energy, and digital connectivity corridor, known as the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), furthering regional cooperation.
- Despite the progress on this electrifying partnership, the undersea electricity cable's route has become a subject of controversy due to Turkey's objections, possibly hindering the benefits that could be derived from this general news-worthy alliance.
