David Narmania, Chairman of the Georgian National Energy and Water Supply Regulatory Commission (GNERC), revealed that Georgia has entered into a cooperation memorandum with Romania’s Electricity Regulatory Commission to support the Black Sea Submarine Cable Project. Narmania explained that the pact will enable joint regulatory efforts and monitoring as the initiative advances.
Describing it as a pivotal and forward-looking endeavor—one of the century’s most vital—Narmania noted, “We connected with my Romanian counterpart about a month ago to formalize this memorandum, allowing our commissions to collaborate effectively on the project. The feasibility assessment is now complete, and a comprehensive technical evaluation of the Black Sea seabed is in progress. Once finished, the project will transition to its implementation stage, moving ahead progressively.”
The Black Sea Submarine Cable Project involves building a high-voltage undersea transmission line to integrate Georgia’s electricity network with Europe’s grid. Spanning 1,155 kilometers beneath the Black Sea, the cable will connect Georgia to Romania, facilitating the export of renewable energy from the South Caucasus to European consumers. This aligns with Georgia’s ambition to solidify its position as a central energy transit hub in the region.
The project kicked off in May 2022, with a World Bank-backed feasibility study led by Georgia’s Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development. Italian firm CESI conducted the analysis to identify the best execution strategies. A foundational memorandum was signed on December 17, 2022, by the governments of Georgia, Azerbaijan, Hungary, and Romania, paving the way for enhanced energy ties across the region and with Europe.
https://renewables.az/en/news/georgia-and-romania-sign-memorandum-on-black-sea-submarine-cable-project