Greece is preparing to issue a NAVTEX maritime notice within days to restart seabed surveys for the Great Sea Interconne...

Greece is preparing to issue a NAVTEX maritime notice within days to restart seabed surveys for the Great Sea Interconnector (GSI), the undersea power cable that would link Greece and Cyprus. The Greek government has made its position clear: Turkey will be informed of the survey's start, not asked for permission. Government sources told To Vima that there is no longer any room for further delays on the surveys. Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis has stressed that the cable route runs dozens of miles south of Turkish maritime parks, rejecting any suggestion that the route needs to be changed. The restart of the surveys comes as France is taking a major stake in the project. Meridiam, the French infrastructure firm, has agreed to acquire 66% of the GSI project company, with Greece's ADMIE remaining as a strategic shareholder. Separately, French cable manufacturer Nexans holds the construction contract for the submarine cable, valued at 1.43 billion euros. Athens believes France wants key project hurdles cleared before the French elections, pushing the GSI from the phase of agreements into actual fieldwork. ADMIE, GSI, and Nexans agreed as far back as August to coordinate on completing the maritime surveys, and a French research vessel is planned for the remaining seabed work. The project still faces unresolved issues. Cyprus has linked the release of 25 million euros recognized as ADMIE revenue for 2025, and an equivalent amount for 2026, to the completion of a due diligence study by the European Investment Bank. Greek and Cypriot energy regulators have also asked ADMIE for clarification on the project's new ownership structure following Meridiam's entry. Greek Energy Minister Stavros Papastavrou discussed the outstanding Cyprus-side issues with his Cypriot counterpart Michalis Damianos on the sidelines of the East Mediterranean Gas Forum. The NAVTEX notice will mark the first real operational test of the new Franco-Greek project structure. #GreeceCyprus #EnergyGeopolitics #GreatSeaInterconnector