RAE, the Regulatory Authority for Energy, has updated details of a Cross Border Cost Allocation (CBCA) agreement concerning the Cyprus-Crete electricity grid interconnection plan, committing the project’s promoter, EuroAsia Interconnector, a consortium of Cypriot interests, to assume any additional compatibility costs that may arise during the development of this segment.

The development eliminates the prospect of action by EuroAsia against Greece following a decision by the Greek government, over a year ago, to detach the Crete-Athens segment from EuroAsia’s wider project, planned to link Greece, from Crete, with Cyprus and Israel.

As a result of the withdrawal, the Crete-Athens segment is now being independently developed by IPTO, Greece’s power grid operator.

Project disagreements between Greek and Cypriot officials have persisted for years but escalated into legal threats and action when, during his recent tenure as energy minister, Costis Hatzidakis decided to withdraw the Crete-Athens segment for independent development.

Following more recent negotiations, EuroAsia appears to have fully accepted the removal of the Athens-Crete segment from the wider project it is spearheading.

Israel, for some time now, has made clear its interest to link the Cyprus-Israel grid interconnection with the Crete-Athens section.