8 October 2019 a Presentation By: Andrew Demetriou the Euroasia Interconnector an Overview
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8 October 2019 A presentation by: Andrew Demetriou The EuroAsia Interconnector An Overview Andrew Demetriou LLB (Hons.), Barrister at Law, FCI. Arb. Chartered Arbitrator, Accredited Mediator, Registered Trusts and Estates Practitioner Director Ioannides Demetriou LLC • Legal Background relating to Submarine Cables within the Cyprus EEZ – Application Process • The Project Specification • An Energy Highway – Project Objectives • Project Timeline • The Construction Process • Overview of Construction Specifics Legal Background relating to Submarine Cables within the Cyprus EEZ • Exclusive Economic Zone and the Continental Shelf Law (64(Ι)/2004) • license requirement • Submarine Cables Regulations of 2014 (578/2014) • regulation of licensing procedure Application • submitted to competent authority Minister of Transport, Communications and Works • reviewed by the Submarine Cables Committee SUBMARINE CABLES COMMITTEE Coordinator: Department of Electrical and Mechanical Services Ministry of Labour, Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Defence Welfare and Social Commerce, Industry and Rural Development Communications and Insurance Tourism and Environment Works Consultation on proposed route to ensure: • operation and capacity to repair existing cables/pipelines/other installations; • safety of navigation; • carrying out of scheduled maritime works; • exploration and exploitation of natural resources; • conservation of natural resources; • protection of marine environment and underwater cultural heritage; • protection of national security/public interest. Project Specification electricity interconnection between the grids of Israel, Cyprus and Crete- Attica, Greece (Europe) through a sub-sea DC cable and with HVDC with onshore converter stations at each connection point – four in total. with a total capacity of 2000MW An Energy Highway The project is an energy highway bridging Asia and Europe, with a total length of 1518km. It creates a reliable alternative route for the transfer of electricity to and from Europe. • end of Energy Isolation of Cyprus • creation of electricity highway: Israel-Cyprus-Crete-Attica, Greece (Europe) • security of the energy supply of Greece, Cyprus and Israel EuroAsia • contribution to security of EU energy supply • promotion of substantial development of Renewable Energy Interconnector Sources contributes to • contribution to reduction of CO2 emissions following energy • economic and geopolitical benefits to the three countries objectives: • contribution to the EU target for 10% of electricity interconnection between Member States Project Timeline January 2012 Project Announcement March 2012 Endorsement from Israel October 2014 European Energy Commission includes Project in Infrastructure Funding List July 2016 Government of Cyprus Accepts Notification February 2017 FEED Commenced Project Timeline [cont.] December 2017 Cyprus Government Approval March 2019 Joint Governmental Declaration of USA, Israel, Greece and Cyprus Clouds from Greece on the Horizon June 2019 Land Concession Agreed EU Funding Application Submitted July 2019 Tender Preparation The Construction Process • EuroAsia Interconnector VSC-HVDC Converter Stations • EuroAsia Interconnector HVDC Submarine Cables and Land Cables for Link 1: Israel – Cyprus • EuroAsia Interconnector HVDC Submarine Cables and Land Cables for Link 2: Cyprus-Crete • EuroAsia Interconnector HVDC Submarine Cables and Land Cables for Link 3: Crete-Attica Construction Specifics • construction of cable and related facilities in three phases (Cyprus- Israel, Crete-Attica, Cyprus-Crete) • influenced by weather conditions and seasonal restrictions • actual construction activity expected to last between 12 and 24 months • land used will be reinstated to original condition, sub-sea routes determined to avoid significant natural formations and geological obstacles Construction Specifics [cont.] • provision made in design to co-operate with other sub-sea operators (pipelines, cables, fibre-optics) • interconnector cable buried at least two metres beneath ground, i.e. invisible for entire route • only facilities such as the interconnector converter stations will be above ground; interconnector cable and all facilities designed / constructed to have minimum environmental impact THANK YOU! Andrew Demetriou Director www.idlaw.com.cy IOANNIDES DEMETRIOU LLC.