• Prysmian Wins €460 Mln Contract For Submarine Cable
• 220-Km Interconnector To Carry 600 MW Between Sicily And Tunisia
• EU, World Bank Back Project To Boost Clean Energy Trade

Italian cable manufacturer Prysmian announced on Friday it has won a contract to construct a high-voltage submarine power cable connecting Italy and Tunisia, moving the first interconnector between the power grids of Europe and North Africa into the construction phase.

The contract, awarded following a joint tender by Italian grid operator Terna and the Tunisian Company of Electricity and Gas (STEG), could be worth approximately 460 million euros ($539 million), subject to certain conditions, the company said.

The cable is the main component of the Tunisia-Italy interconnection project (ELMED) and will link the Partanna station in Sicily with the Mlaabi station on Tunisia’s Cap Bon peninsula. The total length of the link will be about 220 kilometers (137 miles), with nearly 200 km submerged. It will have a capacity of 600 megawatts (MW) and will reach a maximum depth of about 800 meters in the Strait of Sicily.

Prysmian said extensive marine and environmental surveys were conducted to determine the optimal route and protect existing marine ecosystems.

"This is a major project for Italy, Tunisia, Europe and Africa, and being chosen is testament to our experience in handling big challenges and finding smart solutions. The interconnector will benefit both countries and support the global shift toward cleaner energy," said Raul Gil, Executive Vice President for Prysmian’s Transmission Division. 

Dubbed an energy bridge between Italy and Tunisia, and by extension between North Africa and Europe, the bidirectional ELMED project is expected to deliver significant energy and environmental benefits. It is set to enhance the reliability of the Tunisian power grid, particularly during peak summer consumption, while paving the way for new investments in clean energy generation and export opportunities for Tunisian renewable energy to Europe. This could position the North African nation as a new "green battery" for Europe as it develops several solar and wind projects.

Italy views the project as a means to diversify its electricity supply amid growing demand and an accelerated energy transition, solidifying its role as a major energy hub in Europe.

The ELMED project is estimated at 850 million euros. It is backed by the European Union (EU) with an initial funding of 307 million euros. An additional 125 million euros will be mobilized by the European Investment Bank (EIB), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), and the German development bank KfW.

Furthermore, the World Bank has approved $268.4 million in financing for Tunisia to cover a portion of the investment for constructing the main conversion station and associated substations on the Tunisian side. The Green Climate Fund is also set to provide $25 million in concessional funding for ELMED through the Sustainable Renewable Energy Risk Mitigation Initiative.

Walid Kéfi