Kathimerini Greece Newsroom
By Vassilis Nedos
As discussions continue in Greece over plans to begin surveys for the Great Sea Interconnector (GSI), preparations are advancing in Ankara for an undersea pipeline that would carry natural gas from Turkey to the Turkish-occupied north of Cyprus.
According to exclusive information obtained by Kathimerini, Turkey’s Ministry of Energy has informed the relevant ministries of Foreign Affairs and National Defense, as well as the Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO), about the project.
A memorandum for the construction of a roughly 97-kilometer undersea pipeline capable of operating in both directions, connecting southern Turkey with the occupied areas, was signed last June.
According to the same sources, Turkey’s Hydrographic Office in Antalya is expected to issue the required NAVTEX in early October. The TPAO vessel Oruc Reis, accompanied by Turkish Navy warships, will conduct surveys for the installation of the undersea pipeline.
If the surveys are completed, construction could proceed relatively quickly. Sources indicate that most of the pipeline intended to connect Turkey with the occupied areas has already been manufactured.
The project is part of Ankara’s policy toward the occupied areas, which seeks to increase the Turkish Cypriot administration’s dependence on Turkey. Northern Cyprus has already been supplied with water from Turkey through an undersea pipeline for several years.
The water project has also been part of Turkey’s efforts to exert pressure on the Republic of Cyprus, which is dealing with water shortages and increasingly severe drought.
The natural gas pipeline also fits into Turkey’s strategy of supporting the creation of two separate states on the island. Like the existing water pipeline from Turkey to the occupied areas, the proposed gas pipeline would be located in an area under Ankara’s control. As a result, beyond the formal protests regularly issued by the Republic of Cyprus, there are limited practical options available to Nicosia.
“Only from Greece”
Regarding the Greece-Cyprus electrical interconnection, Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis said in an interview with SKAI radio yesterday that Greece would be responsible for licensing the project.
“The country that will license the project is Greece,” he said. “The French company, and the French government, since the project is currently primarily French-owned in terms of its majority stake, will submit a request for a license only to the Greek government. The Greek side will license the project in accordance with international law.”
Gerapetritis said Turkey could be informed through the established procedures.
“Turkey can be informed at this stage. There are rules governing this process. In any case, a NAVTEX is issued precisely to inform all neighboring states and mariners about navigation safety. So there are channels of communication. The license, however, will be granted only by Greece.”
Earlier, Energy Minister Stavros Papastavrou, like Gerapetritis, said there had been no decision to change the route of the GSI cable between Greece and Cyprus.
Turkish media outlets, including Hurriyet and Milliyet, have also devoted significant coverage to discussions about a possible change in the cable’s route. Milliyet also reported on plans by the Greek government to extend Greece’s territorial waters to 12 nautical miles in the area south of Crete.
