U.S. Ambassador on the Great Sea Interconnector: “If This Opportunity Passes, It Won’t Come Back Easily”

U.S. Ambassador to Cyprus Julie D. Fisher emphasized the critical importance of the Great Sea Interconnector project during a speech at the Fourth Thessaloniki Metropolitan Summit. She underscored the urgency for Cyprus to seize this opportunity to integrate with Europe’s electricity grid, warning that “if this opportunity passes, it won’t come back easily.”

As an island nation isolated from Europe’s energy network, Cyprus faces a precarious energy situation that could hinder its future development and stability. Ambassador Fisher stressed that now is the time for Cyprus to address this issue, as the Great Sea Interconnector offers a path to energy sustainability – a vital necessity not only for Cyprus’s energy independence, but also for supporting its growing technology sector.

The Ambassador cautioned that “Cyprus stands alone in terms of its electricity connection, and it’s in a very precarious place.” She urged Cyprus to recognize the geopolitical importance of this project, noting that “these opportunities will pass by, and Cyprus will get left behind” if it fails to act.

Highlighting the positive impacts, Fisher emphasized that a reliable, sustainable electricity grid would enable Cyprus to better attract tech talent and investment, as the country’s “burgeoning tech industry” requires the stability that this interconnector can provide. She warned that “Cyprus will not be able to to attract them without reliability of the electricity grid.”

In closing, the Ambassador underscored the U.S. commitment to ensuring stability and security in the Eastern Mediterranean region, of which Cyprus is an important partner. She emphatically stated: “Now is the time. Should this opportunity pass, it will be very difficult to see it come back again, and Cyprus will be left burning mazut.”