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Greece and Egypt reaffirm plans for 1,000-kilometre undersea power cable

Engineers walk next to solar panels at Benban Solar Park in Aswan, 19 October, 2022
Engineers walk next to solar panels at Benban Solar Park in Aswan, 19 October, 2022 Copyright  AP Photo
Copyright AP Photo
By Gavin Blackburn with AP
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The project, estimated to cost around €4 billion, is expected to become operational within five years under an ambitious timeline set by both governments.

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Greece and Egypt have reaffirmed their commitment to a proposed undersea electricity connection designed to transport renewable energy from North Africa to Europe.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi renewed the pledge during talks in Athens, following the signing of cooperation agreements across multiple sectors.

The planned 3,000-megawatt capacity cable will stretch nearly 1,000 kilometres under the eastern Mediterranean and has secured backing from the European Union, making it eligible for significant funding from the bloc.

"This will allow both Greece and Europe to import low-cost energy – primarily wind energy, which you are able to produce very competitively – and export it to Europe," Mitsotakis said.

Greece's Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, right, and Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi during a joint news conference in Athens, 7 May, 2025
Greece's Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, right, and Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi during a joint news conference in Athens, 7 May, 2025 AP Photo

The project, estimated to cost around €4 billion, is expected to become operational within five years under an ambitious timeline set by both governments.

It aims to transmit solar and wind-generated power explicitly developed for the project in Egypt, with private sector involvement led by Greece's Copelouzos Group.

El-Sissi highlighted the project's strategic importance.

"It's not just a bilateral matter – it's a strategic regional project, as it creates a direct link that will extend to Europe via Greece," he said.

"We count on the European Union’s support for this major initiative."

The EU has expressed strong interest in expanding energy partnerships with non-member countries to diversify its energy sources and reduce its historic dependence on Russian energy following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Mitsotakis and el-Sissi also discussed regional security, migration challenges and ways to deepen Egypt's relationship with the European Union.

"Greece is a steadfast ally of Egypt, including on matters concerning your country's relationship with the European Union," Mitsotakis said, underlining Athens' role in fostering closer EU-Egypt ties.

The talks in Athens concluded with agreements to explore additional energy cooperation, facilitate expanded seasonal employment of Egyptian workers in Greece and enhance collaboration across financial, defence and cultural sectors.

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