Greece–Cyprus power link surveys restart

Work on the Great Sea Interconnector, the planned electricity link between Greece and Cyprus, has restarted with the deployment of the French‑flagged research vessel Abeille Marengo. The vessel departed the port of Heraklion, Crete, on November 10, 2026, to conduct seabed mapping and geotechnical surveys along the route of the submarine cable. Initial operations are focused on waters southeast of Karpathos in the extreme southeast Aegean Sea, as well as maritime areas east of Crete and south of Kasos where earlier work had been interrupted.

The Abeille Marengo’s new mission is scheduled to last four months and includes detailed mapping of the seabed for the planned Crete‑Cyprus interconnection. An initial calibration phase of around 24 hours is expected before full survey activities proceed. The surveys support installation planning for the power cable that will connect Cyprus to the wider European electricity grid.

The Greece–Cyprus electricity interconnection, known as the Great Sea Interconnector, is described as a project of strategic importance for the European Union. Its core objective is to end Cyprus’ energy isolation by physically linking the island to the European electricity grid through Greece. The submarine cable route being surveyed by Abeille Marengo is central to achieving this integration.

French cable manufacturer Nexans is responsible for manufacturing and installing the submarine cable and operates the Abeille Marengo during the survey phase. The technical work now underway resumes surveys that had been suspended in 2024 after earlier operations near Kasos encountered Turkish naval presence, leading to delays and a halt in activity.

The Great Sea Interconnector’s approved capital expenditure stands at approximately €1.94 billion. The project has secured a European Union grant of about €657 million through the Connecting Europe Facility. The European Investment Bank is examining the possibility of providing additional financing of about €1 billion, though a final decision on this financing has not been announced.

Project ownership is held through Great Sea Interconnector SA, in which infrastructure investor Meridiam has a 66% stake and Greece’s Independent Power Transmission Operator (IPTO/ADMIE) holds the remaining 34%. IPTO/ADMIE also serves as project promoter and technical lead. French participation is further underlined by Nexans’ role in cable manufacture and installation and by the use of the French‑flagged Abeille Marengo for survey operations.

Shortly after Abeille Marengo left Heraklion, Turkey’s Antalya NAVTEX station issued notice 1127/26, asserting that the planned research activities for the Crete‑Cyprus interconnector had been coordinated with Turkish authorities and carried out with their consent. The NAVTEX specifies two survey lines and sets the period for activities related to installation of the underwater cable from November 10, 2026, to March 19, 2027.

Greek authorities have rejected Ankara’s assertion, reiterating that the project is moving forward under permits issued by Greek and Cypriot authorities. Greece’s Environment and Energy Minister Stavros Papastavrou stated that the French company involved had never requested permission from Turkey and had approached only the Greek and Cypriot sides. Athens has repeatedly emphasized that the project proceeds in line with established procedures and authorizations from the competent authorities.

The renewed Turkish NAVTEX brings fresh attention to Ankara’s past objections, including tensions in 2024 when surveys by another vessel in the Kasos area were confronted by Turkish warships, causing delays and a suspension of operations. Despite these challenges, work on the Great Sea Interconnector has now resumed, with seabed surveys again under way along the planned route of the Greece–Cyprus electricity cable.