Newsroom
Finance Minister Makis Keravnos said on Tuesday that he is not particularly optimistic about the Great Sea Interconnector (GSI) electricity interconnection project with Greece, especially while there are still serious political obstacles posed by Turkey.
Asked on the sidelines of the annual general assembly of STEC whether he has seen the response letter from the Greek Energy Minister to the Republic of Cyprus on the GSI issue, Mr. Keraynos said he has no information on the issue since it is handled by the Energy Minister and cannot say anything more.
When asked whether he still has concerns about the project, he noted that his specific concerns have been confirmed by the studies of the expert who was commissioned to carry out the study.
"So from there, those concerns will have to be discussed," he noted.
He added that there already seems to be a dialogue between the Energy Ministers of Cyprus and Greece. He added that when there is a conclusion, there will be a discussion at government level to see how to proceed with the issue.
Asked whether he is optimistic that the issue will be resolved, the minister said "I cannot say I am optimistic, especially when there are still very serious problems politically, the obstacles that Turkey is putting up."
Asked whether in the end the opinion of the American firm that undertook the study and says it is not in Cyprus' interest to participate in the equity of the project should be taken into account, Keraynos said that consultants are used by governments and various others and their opinions and views are weighed in making decisions.
