The second phase of IPTO's international tender for the conclusion of a framework agreement for the 150 kV AC submarine cable projects of the Dodecanese and the islands of the North-Eastern Aegean starts.

The first phase of the tender procedure was completed last time with the successful participation of Fulgor S.A., Nexans Norway A.S., and Prysmian Powerlink S.r.l.

In the second phase of the tender, the participating companies will be invited to submit their final financial and technical offer, on the basis of which the contractor or contractors of the project will be selected. The award will be made on the basis of the most economically advantageous tender.

The initial budget of the project is €1.717 billion (plus VAT), and the expected duration of the framework agreement is set at 6 years from the signature of the contract. 

Due to the high demand for submarine cables for international interconnection projects, IPTO has adopted this tendering practice for the first time, which other European operators are also following. This ensures the availability of production slots at the contractors' plants.

Unlike independent tendering, the framework agreement ensures more advantageous prices, more favourable delivery times, and better management of available resources. 

According to the current plan, with the electricity interconnection of the Dodecanese, Kos, Rhodes, and Karpathos will be interconnected with the mainland system via Corinth in two phases. Similarly, the interconnection of the northeastern Aegean will include the islands of Lemnos, Lesvos, Skyros, Chios, and Samos and will be implemented in three phases.

With the integration of the Dodecanese and the islands of the NE Aegean into the continental electricity transmission system, in the coming years IPTO will complete the major island interconnections foreseen in its investment program. 

The interconnections of the two island clusters will significantly enhance energy security also in the eastern part of the country, while reducing the carbon footprint of the islands due to the withdrawal of polluting and costly local power plants.

STATEMENTS

Minister of Environment and Energy, Theo Skylakakis, said: "The major interconnection projects of the islands are moving to their next phase with the progress of the tender for the submarine cables of the Dodecanese and NE Aegean interconnections. By putting these projects into action, we will be able to access affordable renewable energy on our islands and lessen the heavy burden that Greek mainland consumers currently place on the Public Utility Services (PSUs). At the same time, it will reduce the very expensive and 'dirty' fossil fuel energy, which today continues to be used in the island country.".

The President and CEO of IPTO, Manos Manousakis, said: "IPTO is consistently proceeding with the implementation of another round of island interconnections in the Dodecanese and the NE Aegean. With conditions in the international submarine electricity cable market becoming much more demanding, we are adopting a new tendering model in order to be able to construct our projects on time and with greater cost-effectiveness. Apart from the obvious benefits of these electrical interconnections, the strengthening of the energy infrastructure in the Aegean is also the first important step for the development of offshore wind farms, which will start to be installed in the Greek seas in the coming years."