CESI, new important steps in the Black Sea submarine cable project

In the past week, a high-level meeting within the Agreement on Strategic Partnership in the Field of Green Energy Development and Transmission between the Governments of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Romania and Hungary was held in Tbilisi. Among the topics covered during the meeting, the Black Sea Submarine Cable project was also discussed, underlining the significance of its implementation.

CESI is involved in this very important project, having been selected by GSE, the single Georgian Electricity Transmission System Operator, to carry out its feasibility study. The high-voltage submarine electricity cable under the Black Sea (1195-kilometer long, 1100 km underwater and 95 km on-land) aims to connect the South Caucasus region with South-Eastern Europe, involving the electricity systems of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Romania and Hungary, and continental Europe. The project will be implemented with the support of the Georgian Government and the cooperation of the Georgian and Romanian transmission system operators GSE and Transelectrica.

The Black Sea Submarine Cable is a strategic project and a great investment opportunity for Georgia and its neighboring countries. The project will contribute to the development of the renewable energy sector, increase transit opportunities and bilateral trade potential between the EU and the South Caucasus region.

According to the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, the Black Sea submarine cable is “ an ambitious project. It would connect us on both sides of the Black Sea and run further towards the Caspian Sea region both for digital communication and for energy. It will help reinforce our security of supply by bringing electricity from renewable sources to the European Union “.

At the current stage, the Georgian company GSE and CESI have taken the first concrete steps in carrying out the feasibility study of the project.

“ We have already selected the route and the location of the converter stations. In the future, within the framework of the project, environmental and social impact assessment and geophysical and geotechnical studies of the Black Sea bottom will also be carried out to minimize environmental and social impact caused by the infrastructure construction”  – said Stefano Malgarotti, CESI Engineering Consulting Director.”