NICOSIA – Cyprus’ isolation from the European Union energy grid could end by 2028 after a deal with Greece to link the island’s electricity lines to Crete and under the sea, an agreement that took months of negotiations.

That was finalized by Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides during a visit to Athens where it was signed by the energy ministers of the countries and was applauded for finally tying the island to the EU, said Euronews.

https://www.euronews.com/2024/09/22/cyprus-to-join-european-power-grid-following-interstate-agreement-with-greece

It didn’t come easy, with back-and-f0rth over the details that brought delays and disagreement over the final shared costs among other issues, but it came together over the previous few weeks, the news site said.

Christodoulides, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and French President Emmanual Macron were due to talk about it on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

A Cyprus government spokesman said that Christodoulides had discussed the project with Macron on the phone earlier and underscored its significance to the EU’s energy strategy, especially with worry over climate change.

The cable will link networks from Europe and Cyprus in a project costing 1.9 billion euros ($2.21 billion) and also go to Israel. The EU’s share will be 657 million euros ($731.49 million) for the project hailed as the world’s longest underwater cable.

It will run 1,240 kilometers (770.5 miles) and be 3,000 meters (9842 feet) under the sea at its deepest point and is also aimed at helping make Greece a clean energy transit hub although it’s also burning coal to generate electricity.