Work on a grid interconnection for Santorini, to end the island’s energy isolation through a link with neighboring Naxos, is expected to begin in mid-January.

A supervisory committee has given the green light for the Santorini link, paving the way for sub-contractors who have signed contracts with power grid operator IPTO – following a related tender completed a few months ago – to commence work in January, according to energypress sources.

Santorini’s grid link represents the first step in the fourth and final phase of the Cyclades interconnection, whose overall budget is worth 410 million euros, of which 165 million euros will be provided by the recovery and resilience facility.

Naxos was interconnected with the country’s mainland grid in October, 2020, during the second phase of the Cyclades islands interconnections.

IPTO expects the Santorini interconnection to be completed and launched in the first half of 2023.

The Santorini grid link will enable further interconnections with Milos, Folegandros and Serifos. Tenders for the contracts concerning the three islands will soon be announced, the objective being to complete these projects within the first half of 2024.