The crucial meeting on the Crete-Cyprus cable and the American push

Messages to the European Commission, Cyprus and the industry included yesterday’s press conference of the Prime Minister at the TIF, setting the tone for the government’s policy focusing on electricity prices and the fate of the electric cable which enters the most crucial period of negotiations tomorrow.

“It is an important project especially for Cyprus,” the Prime Minister said yesterday of the Great Sea Interconnector, adding that the two countries are in negotiations “and once the viability of the project is ensured, any geopolitical risks will be overcome.”

Tomorrow’s crucial session on the Crete-Cyprus electricity interconnection, convened by the Cypriot side, will be attended by Energy Minister Theodoros Skylakakis in a particularly charged atmosphere, at a time when the processes are on a knife edge and the developments were not what the Greek side expected. Instead of implementing what was agreed last Monday, September 2 in a teleconference in the presence of all parties involved, Nicosia continues to maintain uncertainty in the project as it fails to resolve the regulatory issues that are a key prerequisite for Nexans not to suspend the construction of the project.

The Role of the USA

Of particular significance were the statements made at the Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF) by U.S. Deputy Secretary for Energy, Jeffrey Pyatt, and the U.S. Ambassador to Nicosia, highlighting the importance of this project for the U.S. in the Eastern Mediterranean region. Ms. Julie Fisher emphasized that now is not the time for both sides to think only about the money, stating that Cyprus has an opportunity it must not miss, as it will be much more difficult to return later, with the risk of still burning fuel oil when there is a need for a green transition.

Mr. Skylakakis did not hide his annoyance with the developments regarding the cable project, stating from Thessaloniki that he is heading to Cyprus on the condition that the President of Cyprus, Mr. Nikos Christodoulides, will also participate in the consultations. The latter appeared particularly firm in recent days, declaring that “we will not burden either the state or the citizens,” referring to the outcomes of other major strategic projects, such as the terminal at Vasilikos. “Our decision will be based on real data and will not have any ambiguity, whether constructive or not,” he stated characteristically.

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