Crete grid link tender in May, RAE endorsement any day now

RAE, the Regulatory Authority for Energy, is moving to approve, any day now, an imminent tender for the development of the Crete-Athens electricity grid interconnection.

The tender is expected to be launched within the current month.

IPTO has been at odds with Euroasia Interconnector, a consortium of Cypriot interests heading a wider PCI-status Greek-Cypriot-Israeli electricity grid interconnection project, for control of the Crete-Athens segment. The Greek operator has withdrawn this segment from the wider project.

However, the project has yet to be removed from the EU’s PCI list. An updated list will be finalized in autumn. Until then, the Crete-Athens link will remain a part of the PCI catalog.

The tender, to be staged by power grid operator IPTO subsidiary firm Ariadne once RAE gives the green light, needs to be launched in May, otherwise ensuing delays could be crucial for Crete’s energy future. The island faces a looming energy shortage threat.

The Crete-Athens link will be developed as planned and completed within the final quarter of 2022 if no other delays emerge and the tender is launched this month, IPTO officials have noted.