Greece is seeking to restart seabed surveys for the €1.9 billion Great Sea Interconnector, a proposed electricity connection between Cyprus and mainland Europe. The project’s implementation schedule has been affected by unresolved maritime disagreements with Turkey in the eastern Mediterranean. The restart effort is aimed at moving the interconnector towards the next phase of offshore work.
Nexans application for offshore survey work on ADMIE project
Nexans has submitted a new application to conduct offshore surveys on behalf of Greek transmission system operator ADMIE, which is developing the interconnector. The surveys are intended to establish the final submarine cable route before installation activities can proceed. A French survey vessel is expected to carry out the work if authorisations are granted.
Approval would be required from Greece’s ministerial committee responsible for marine research, together with its coast guard. The application relates specifically to conducting offshore survey activities needed for route finalisation. Without the permissions, installation planning remains dependent on when the survey campaign can begin.
Maritime claims affect survey coordination and construction timing
Progress on the interconnector has been delayed by competing maritime claims in the eastern Mediterranean. Turkey has said that certain survey activities should be coordinated with Ankara, citing its 2019 maritime agreement with Libya. Greece rejects using that agreement to limit the planned surveys and maintains that the project can proceed under its existing international arrangements.
The dispute has shifted a technical survey programme into a broader geopolitical issue, affecting construction scheduling and project financing. For ADMIE and its contractors, any extended delay would complicate construction planning and the sequencing of offshore cable installation. The interconnector is designed to integrate Cyprus more closely with the European electricity market.
Potential Israel extension and US political support
The interconnector also includes a potential subsequent extension towards Israel. The project has received renewed political support from the United States, following statements by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Washington linked its backing to efforts to diversify energy supply routes and strengthen regional energy security.
Diplomatic involvement could help address some political obstacles, but the immediate requirement remains whether planned seabed surveys can resume. The next decisive milestone is approval and completion of the survey campaign rather than additional declarations of support.
