Crete’s submarine interconnection with the mainland grid needs to be completed as soon as possible as the project stands to boost economic growth on the island, save money at a national level, and also offer environmetal benefits, Greece’s energy minister Panos Skourletis stressed following a meeting yesterday with Cretan regional authorities.

“Today, we discussed a project that should have been developed yesterday,” Skourletis noted, referring to the Cretan interconnection project, whose development has been split into a smaller intermediate project and the final installation.

Stavros Arnaoutakis, the Prefect of Crete who led the team of local officials in the meeting with the energy minister, told reporters that he and his associates will offer all possible support for the project’s development.

The intermediate part of the project, planned to facilitate smaller electricity amounts, could soon be completed, Arnaoutakis remarked.

Three costly mazut and diesel-fueled stations operate on the island. The cost of running these units is covered by electricity consumers nationwide through Public Service Compensation (YKO) surcharges imposed on electricity bills. The total annual cost, covering all national needs, reaches roughly 800 million euros.