The station, set to be built in Kofinou, will be the hub for a 2,000MW 1,518km long subsea cable, planned to connect the electricity grids of Cyprus, Israel, Crete and mainland Greece.

Through decree 714 published in the Official Gazette of Cyprus, Issue No. 4841/2018, the government issued an expropriation order and description of the land site for the converter station saying: “This was necessary for the purpose of the public good, being for the promotion and development of energy.”

According to the EuroAsia Interconnector website, the government decree said that there were no objections submitted about the project within the predetermined time frame, which allowed the energy ministry to execute his authority for the expropriation of the land.

The first stage of the project will be completed in December 2020, and will be a 1,000MW €3.5 billion project that will connect Crete and mainland Greece, the website noted.

The interconnection of Cyprus and Israel and Cyprus and Crete will be completed in December 2021.

The interconnector will provide countries with “significant socio-economic benefits”, the website said, adding that there will be a decrease of electricity costs through the use of more efficient power generation methods, including natural gas and renewable sources.

The project has been declared a European Union Project of Common Interest (PCI), and seeks to end the island’s energy isolation as a member state, the website said.

Source: Cyprus Mail