EUROPE: The “Green Corridor” project will solve many regional problems related to energy security (ministers)
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The “Green Corridor” project solves many problems related to energy security in the region and sets world records, such as the fact that the length of the submarine cable to be built will be approximately 1,200 kilometers, they reiterated, on Tuesday, in a conference of press, the representatives of the Ministries of Energy from the countries participating in this project supported by the European Union (EU), according to Agerpres.
“Today, we mark something symbolic, because this process started in Bucharest and two years later we managed to reach a very important stage. We established the joint venture company, which is very important for the advancement of our project (“Green Corridor”, n.r.) and, at the same time, we signed for a Feasibility Study with the participation of our colleagues. This study is being carried out and we will have the results during COP29, but also some in Baku, where there will be a high-level meeting dedicated specifically to this Green Corridor from the Caspian Sea. This green energy project solves many problems and is important for energy security. I very much appreciate the involvement of the European Union and we hope that this cooperation will continue in the future, because, in fact, we are now dealing with an aspect that responds to many requests from many interested parties. I would like to mention to you that this project was initially considered as a project to provide additional energy from the Caspian area to the European Union, but on a parallel line we have another project from the Central Asian countries. We are talking about Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, and in the future we should also think about the interconnection of these corridors, which will probably be part of a single energy corridor connecting Asia to Europe. So, we can consider that in fact this project is a Euro-Asian one”, said the Minister of Energy of Azerbaijan, Parviz Shahbazov.
For his part, the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, Levan Davitashvili, emphasized that this project can contribute to the energy security of the European Union and is the key to having a competitive energy market.
“The fact that we can be part of this project means a lot. I think this meeting was very productive. I signed the association contract. Romania, indeed, plays an essential role in the implementation and development of this project. I would like to mention the fact that energy security is very important and this project can contribute to the energy security of the European Union and is the key to have open markets and to have a competitive energy market. We invest a lot in new projects and talk about hydro-electricity, but also about solar energy. Together we can be suppliers of green energy for the European Union and we believe that this will actually be a long-term cooperation between Georgia and the European Union. It is very important for us, because we are in the process of integration with the European Union. This means that it is important to overcome these physical challenges. We are the only country that is on the other side of the Black Sea and we are indeed a candidate that wants and aims to be part of the European family”, said Davitashvili.
The representative of Hungary, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Peter Szijjarto, pointed out that this infrastructure project needs to be completed as soon as possible.
“We appreciate all the efforts you have made to make progress on this world record-setting project. Hungary has essential goals in terms of energy. First of all, we are interested in a security of energy supply and then that the energy becomes greener. We believe that we can achieve two objectives through a single action. This project also provides green energy both in Romania and in the European Union. Through this project, we will exceed world records, considering that the length of the submarine cable will be approximately 1,200 km. A cable that has never been built before. In order to have the possibility to include the green energy of Azerbaijan and Georgia in the national energy mixes of Romania and hopefully Hungary, we need the infrastructure project to be completed as soon as possible. We, Hungary, are glad that after signing the agreement on the establishment of the joint venture, we will do everything possible to accelerate the project to be implemented as soon as possible. Our electricity distribution operator will take all measures to develop this project”, the Hungarian official said.
The Ministry of Energy organized, on Tuesday, at the Victoria Palace, a meeting of the Ministers of Energy from the states involved in the implementation of the “Green Corridor” project, the 8th edition, with the participation of the European Commission (EC).
The event was also attended by the president of the Directorate of CNTTE Transelectrica S.A., Ştefăniţă Munteanu, and the management of the companies Georgian State Electrosystems, AzerEnerji and MVM Electrical Works, national electricity transmission operators from other countries.
CNTEE Transelectrica, Georgian State Electrosystem, AzerEnerji and MVM Electrical Works signed the constitutive documents of the project company Green Energy Corridor Power Company, based in Romania, which will implement the “Green Corridor” project, respectively a high-voltage direct current submarine cable , which will connect, through the Black Sea, Romania and Georgia, the connection being extended in Hungary and Azerbaijan. It will contribute essentially to the consolidation of national and regional energy security, the increase of connectivity in the Black Sea basin, the diversification of supply sources, the exploitation of the renewable energy production potential and the increase of the share of renewable energy in the national energy mix.
The “Green Corridor” project is supported by the European Commission, and the president of the Brussels forum, Ursula von der Leyen, personally participated in the signing of the agreement between the parties, which took place at the Cotroceni Palace, on December 17, 2022. At the same time, the Commission participated in all ministerial meetings and technical meetings.
On Tuesday, September 3, 2024, the Energy Ministers from the four states signed a protocol to amend the agreement which clarifies that European legislation and the obligations arising from Romania’s and Hungary’s capacity as Member States prevail over the provisions of the agreement. In addition, by joining the Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digitization, the possibility of including in the feasibility study a new component, namely an optical fiber cable that will connect the 4 countries and regarding data flows, will be evaluated.
In the next period, the solutions for the implementation of this development will be identified. Last but not least, discussions were held about the possibility of Bulgaria joining the feasibility study and the infrastructure project, states the Ministry of Energy, in a press release.
