Interconnection of Crete – Attica: Installation of submarine cables begins |

At the starting line is the connection of the electrical cables of the Crete-Attica interconnection by the subsidiary company of the Independent Electricity Transmission Operator (IPTO), Ariadne Interconnection. The ship “Aurora” of the contractor company Nexans, sailed to Attica, carrying out its maiden voyage, which marks the beginning of the installation works for the first section of the submarine cable, in the immediate future.
The ship was visited in the port of Piraeus by the Minister of Environment and Energy Mr. Costas Skrekas, the Secretary General of Energy and Mineral Resources Mr. Alexandra Sdoukou, the President and CEO of IPTO, Mr. Manos Manousakis and Mr. and Ariadne Interconnection.

In a tour of the “Aurora”, the political leadership of RIS and the managements of the two companies had the opportunity to tour the state-of-the-art cable ship Nexans, which carries the first 170 km of the electric cable that will connect Crete with Attica.
The Minister of Environment and Energy, Mr. Costas Skrekas, stated in this regard: “Today we visited the ship Nexans Aurora which will lay the submarine cable with a total length of 670 km, for the electrical interconnection of Crete with mainland Greece. This is the largest project in the history of the Greek electricity system, which when completed in 2024 will have multiple benefits for citizens and the environment. First, it will shield the electricity grid of Crete, ensuring the uninterrupted supply of electricity to the largest island of the country. Second, there will be significant savings in electricity bills of up to € 550 million per year from the reduction of Utilities. Third, it will contribute to achieving national climate targets by drastically reducing CO2 emissions by 450,000 tonnes a year. “

The President and CEO of IPTO, Mr. Manos Manousakis, stated: “The Crete-Attica interconnection is progressing dynamically. With the arrival of “Aurora” in Greece, begins the critical phase of the laying of electrical cables that will make the energy union of Crete with Attica a reality. The submarine cable with a transmission capacity of 1,000 MW and a voltage of 500 kV will significantly expand the scope of clean energy transfer to and from the island, highlighting the crucial role of electricity interconnections in the country’s energy transformation and in achieving national energy and climate targets. ».