DISY demands a final decision from the Cyprus government on the Great Sea Interconnector power cable

Cyprus’s opposition party DISY demanded that the government make a final decision on the Great Sea Interconnector — an undersea electricity cable intended to connect the power grids of Cyprus, Greece and the rest of Europe. Party leader Annita Demetriou made the statement at a press conference in Nicosia.

“Indecision and a lack of courage lead nowhere,” Demetriou said. According to her, Cyprus faces a choice: remain trapped in hesitation or assume the role dictated by its geography and EU membership. The party is calling for an end to the “ambiguity and inaction” surrounding the project.

The cost calculations were presented at the press conference. The EU grant for the project is €658 million, Greece’s contribution is €866 million, and Cyprus’s share is €1,476 million; this amount is spread over 30 years, or about €50 million per year. Under an agreement with Athens, the Greek side will cover 37% of the remaining costs.

Demetriou noted that international investors, as well as Greece, France and the US, are involved in the project, and described Turkey’s position as the main risk to its construction. She characterised the cable itself as a “project of peace and cooperation”.

The party pointed out that while the decision is being postponed, consumers in Cyprus continue to pay for expensive electricity and face supply disruptions, while some energy from renewable sources is wasted because of a lack of storage capacity. Demetriou announced high-level contacts in Athens and Brussels in support of the project.