[REVISION HISTORY]

Greece-Cyprus Great Sea Interconnector advances amid debate

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2026-10-25 18:57 UTC → 2026-10-28 09:16 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The Great Sea Interconnector (GSI) continues to advance despite regulatory, geopolitical, and legal complexities. By late August 2026, the project faced potential delays due to pending regulatory decisions in Nicosia regarding €50 million in outstanding electricity transmission system usage fees for 2024 and 2025. During this period, the project gained momentum as the French investment group Meridiam became a majority shareholder, acquiring a 66% stake to strengthen the capital base. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis described this as a ‘strong vote of confidence’ in the nation’s energy infrastructure. In mid-September 2026, the project entered a critical implementation phase. Technical planning remains ongoing, with stakeholders including ADMIE, Nexans, and Meridiam coordinating efforts. To support field operations, Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides agreed to contribute 25 million euros from the Republic of Cyprus, part of a planned 125 million euro contribution over five years starting in 2025. However, the project has faced domestic political friction in Cyprus, where opposition parties criticized the government over concerns regarding the project’s long-term sustainability and rising costs. By early October 2026, legal debates emerged regarding the laying of underwater cables under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). In mid-October, Nexans SA submitted a formal request to the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs for a NAVTEX to authorize the resumption of seabed surveys. This move triggered renewed geopolitical tensions, as Turkey issued a NAVTEX via the Antalya Station challenging the jurisdiction of the Greek Heraklion Station south of Kastellorizo. ~~This dispute coincides with the ‘EUNOMIA’ multinational exercise. As of late~~ On October ~~2026,~~ 27, the French-flagged research vessel ‘ABEILLE MARENGO’ ~~has departed Naples, Italy, and is expected to arrive~~ arrived in Heraklion, Crete, ~~on October 27.~~ from Naples, Italy. The vessel, representing Nexans and utilizing Italian company Next Geosolutions Europe SpA, is tasked with conducting seabed and geological surveys for the 1,208-kilometer subsea cable.

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