Turkey-Cyprus power cable to link Akkuyu and Teknecik lines

ANKARA - Anadolu Agency

Turkish Cypriot Economy and Energy Minister Sunat Atun announced the route of the new interconnected power line between Turkey and Turkish Cyprus on Oct. 16.

Atun told state-run Anadolu Agency in an interview that the power line would be laid between a new transformer station based in Akkuyu in the southern province of Mersin and the Teknecik transformer station located in Turkish Cyprus.

He also confirmed that the final agreement on the project will be signed in a few months between Turkey and Turkish Cyprus. An energy protocol was signed to build the cable on Oct. 11, 2016 during the World Energy Congress in Istanbul.

The agreement not only includes the construction of the interconnected system but also involves the renewal of electricity infrastructure, development of electricity supply security, mutual cooperation on renewable energy, the application of electricity regulations as well as exploration of new oil and natural gas resources.

“The final agreement will be signed before 2018, and following the agreement, construction will start the very next day,” Atun said.

The power line’s route will differ from that of the water supply project between Turkey and Turkish Cyprus, which was realized a few years ago. This project supplies 30 million cubic meters of water every year.

“The construction of the cable will take one and a half years, and laying the cable will require two months,” he said. But he explained that this timeframe could be cut down to six months if the cable does not have to be manufactured from scratch, and an alternative ready-to-lay cable can be found.

Atun explained that 98 percent of electricity production in Turkish Cyprus is based on fuel-oil combined cycle plants. Such production causes air pollution and negatively impacts the environment in the country whose economy is heavily reliant on tourism.

“The power cable will supply sustainability for Turkish Cyprus, not only for the environment but also financially,” he added.

“Turkish Cyprus pays $100 million for 2,000 tons of fuel oil every year. Fluctuations in the exchange rate and international price differentiations can change the electricity production cost. However, we will be able to receive electricity from Turkey based on a fixed price,” Atun said.

Based in Akkuyu, where Turkey’s first nuclear power plant will be, the transformer station will be located in the same region on the Mediterranean coast. The construction of the plant is estimated to start in 2018, and has an operational date set for the first reactor by 2023. The plant is expected to be up and running at full capacity by 2025.