Underwater cable across Black Sea awaiting European Commission`s  approval 

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.