French company Nexans is conducting seabed surveys from Cyprus to Crete and vice versa, while it has started production of the cable that is to be used for the electricity interconnection between Cyprus and Greece, Minister of Energy, Commerce and Industry, George Papanastasiou, told CNA, after being briefed by company representatives on the progress of the project to-date.

Asked by CNA about today’s meeting in Nicosia and what was discussed, Papanastasiou said that he was briefed this morning by two Nexans representatives on the progress of the project.

The company is constructing the cable for the Cyprus-Greece electricity interconnection as part of the Great Sea Interconnector project.

Papanastasiou said that they were informed that the company was carrying out a seabed survey, from Cyprus to Crete and from Crete to Cyprus, with two different vessels which are currently within national territorial waters, one in Greece, the other in Cyprus, noting that according to the briefing, it is expected that the vessels will enter international waters within the coming days.

He explained that the vessels were identifying the corridors through which the two cables - approximately 15 centimetres in diameter each - will pass.

According to the Minister, the Nexans representatives also informed them that two factories, one in Norway and the other in Japan, have started production of the cables. The reason why two factories are working on the cables, he added, is to meet the schedules, which “are pressing”.

Papanastasiou noted that the project is based on the schedule agreed upon between Nexans and the implementing body, Greece’s Independent Power Transmission Operator (IPTO).

Replying to a question, he said that the contract with Nexans consists of three parts: the seabed survey, the construction of the cable, and its laying, noting that the company said that the laying of the first kilometres of the cable is expected to begin in 2026.

He added that Nexans representatives said that, unless something significant causes a change to the schedule, and if the project continues at the same pace, without being interrupted in any way, it is not expected to have any change in cost. This, however, will be assessed as the schedule progresses, he said.