Transelectrica and Georgian State Electrosystem have started the technical-development phase of a proposed 1,300 MW electricity interconnector across the Black Sea. The project is supported by a memorandum between the two system operators that shifts cooperation from political engagement toward engineering preparation. The next stage will focus on defining key design inputs for the link.
The planned interconnector would connect Constanța in Romania with Anaklia in Georgia. The route is expected to cover approximately 1,155 kilometres, including about 1,115 kilometres of submarine cable and 40 kilometres of onshore transmission infrastructure. Engineering work will need to specify how the offshore and onshore sections connect to the respective networks.
Cable design work and grid integration steps
The engineering preparation phase will determine the cable technology and the seabed route. It will also cover landing points, converter-station design, and system-stability requirements. Integration planning will address how the interconnector interfaces with the Romanian and Georgian transmission networks.
The project’s offshore scope is described as technically complex due to its scale. At more than 1,100 kilometres offshore, the cable would be among the world’s longest submarine electricity links. Black Sea depth, seabed conditions, repair logistics, and converter availability are identified as factors that can affect capital costs and construction risk.
EU Project of Mutual Interest status and commercial requirements
The interconnector received Project of Mutual Interest status from the European Union in 2026. The designation reflects its role in linking the South Caucasus with the European electricity market. The interconnector is intended to support renewable-energy trade, diversify supply routes, and create an electricity corridor that bypasses traditional land-based transit systems.
The commercial model is also part of the development considerations for a 1,300 MW link. It requires dependable generation or contracted supply on the eastern side, sufficient demand and price spreads in Europe, and a regulated framework able to support debt service over several decades. Renewable generation in Georgia and the wider Caucasus is cited as a potential energy base, while lenders are expected to seek clarity on offtake arrangements, congestion revenues, and availability obligations.
Romania’s transmission role linked to Constanța infrastructure
The project would add another role for Romania within European energy infrastructure. Constanța is already described as important for Black Sea transport as well as gas and electricity development. Transelectrica is working on domestic reinforcement and cross-border integration with neighbouring markets.
A memorandum initiates what is described as the most consequential stage of the project. With political support establishing the corridor’s strategic rationale, detailed engineering is expected to determine whether the cable can meet requirements for technical reliability, commercial financeability, and resilience at its stated scale.
