New Strategic Partnership - The Black Sea Submarine Cable Project
The agreement for the Black Sea Submarine Cable Project was signed in Bucharest on December 17th 2022, in the presence of the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, the President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, the Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili and the Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orban.
The Black Sea Submarine Cable Project between Georgia and Romania aims to connect the South Caucasus region with South-Eastern Europe by means of an underwater power transmission cable, which will be equipped with a digital connection. The total length of the cable will be of 1195 km (95 km land and 1100 km underwater part), with a capacity of 1000 MW, and is projected to cost 1.2 billion euros. An 18-month feasibility study by CESI, an Italian consultancy, started in May 2022 and the project is supposed to become operational in 2029.
The goal of this new cable construction is expected to boost European energy security and connectivity, in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine. The project is supported by the European Commission, which promised to provide funding and regulatory assistance. The project aims to diversify the energy sources and routes for Europe and enhance and cooperation in the region, as well as contribute to the green transition and climate goals of the European Union.
