French cable manufacturer Nexans has distanced itself from geopolitical disputes over the Greece to Cyprus electricity interconnector, confirming it has not contacted Turkish authorities.
In a letter sent to Greek daily newspaper Kathimerini, the French industrial firm clarified that its involvement in the Great Sea Interconnector project is strictly limited to technical and contractual duties. It stated that it has neither carried out nor planned any communication with Turkish officials regarding upcoming seabed surveys in the region.
Nexans confirmed that coordination and cooperation for upcoming work are conducted strictly with the project promoter and the competent authorities in Greece and Cyprus, in accordance with its existing contract. As the specialized industrial contractor for the project, the company is tasked with providing technical expertise for the design, manufacturing and installation of subsea cable systems.
Nexans is a global cable manufacturing corporation headquartered in France. The Great Sea Interconnector is a planned high-voltage direct current subsea cable link designed to connect the electrical transmission grids of Greece and Cyprus across the Mediterranean Sea, ending the island nation's energy isolation from continental Europe.
Seabed Surveys and Diplomatic Tensions
The clarification from Nexans comes at a critical moment for the project, as government officials in Athens and Nicosia focus on the next stage of subsea surveys required for the cable route. The stance of Turkey remains one of the primary parameters affecting how maritime operations proceed in the area.
Nexans explicitly emphasized that it does not take a position on political or geopolitical issues surrounding the Great Sea Interconnector. The distinction carries significant weight because the implementation of the cross-border electricity link has repeatedly faced geopolitical tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Athens is the capital of Greece, Nicosia is the capital of Cyprus, and Ankara is the capital of Turkey. Maritime energy projects in the Eastern Mediterranean often navigate complex legal and territorial discussions among neighboring coastal nations.
Contractual Obligations and Next Steps
Attention has now turned to the upcoming seabed surveys, which represent a mandatory technical step for advancing the subsea infrastructure project. Nexans stated that it will maintain close cooperation with its client and continue supporting the implementation of the cable link under its contractual obligations and the governing legal framework.
The firm made clear that the responsibility for managing political and diplomatic efforts to ensure the smooth restart and continuation of work lies entirely with the participating governments. For Nexans, the primary requirement is the establishment of suitable conditions that allow the company to proceed with the execution of its technical contract.
