ArmInfo. The Black Sea submarine power cable project, which is intended to connect the South Caucasus power grids with the European Union, is awaiting PCI/PMI (Project of Common European Interest) status. This was reported by Georgia Online, citing the European Commission's press service.
According to the Commission, the project's initiators applied for this status in November 2024, and the final list of projects to be awarded the status is expected by the end of 2025. "If the project receives PMI status, it will be granted certain benefits, including expedited permitting. If all conditions are met, the project will be eligible for co-financing through the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) program through a competitive selection process," the European Commission stated.
The European Union calls this project one of the flagship initiatives of the Global Gateway program, aimed at strengthening energy ties between the EU and the countries of the South Caucasus. According to Georgia's draft budget for 2026, 25 million lari is planned for geological surveys in preparation for cable construction.
At the Silk Road International Forum in Tbilisi, Zviad Gachechiladze, a member of the board of directors of the State Electricity System of Georgia, announced that project preparations have entered an active phase: "We are beginning a survey of the Black Sea floor, necessary for geophysical and geotechnical work to accurately determine the route. After that, we can move on to the construction phase. Just two days ago, we received confirmation that the submarine cable project has been included in the eight-year development plan of the European Association of Energy System Operators for 2026-2036 - this is an extremely important achievement for us." The project is designed to transform Georgia into an energy bridge between the Caucasus and Europe and is seen as a key element of the region's future energy integration with the EU.
As a reminder, the "Agreement between the governments of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Romania, and Hungary on a strategic partnership for the development and transportation of green energy" was signed on December 17, 2022, in Bucharest. It envisages the construction of a 1,195-kilometer cable (which will take 3-4 years - ed.) along the bottom of the Black Sea to transmit 1 GW of electricity. Azerbaijani electricity will be supplied via Georgia and the Black Sea to Romania for onward transportation to Hungary. Bulgaria also expressed interest in joining the project in June 2023.
It is noteworthy that EU officials previously discussed the importance of Armenia's involvement in this important transborder Black Sea submarine cable project in the context of developing relations between Yerevan and Brussels.
