Greek grid operator launches tenders for $1 bln power link (updated)

Holding Admie Ipto SA

24/05/2019 10:13

(Adds detail)
    ATHENS, May 24 (Reuters) - Greek electricity grid operator
ADMIE on Friday launched two tenders to build two undersea
cables linking the island of Crete to the mainland, the energy
ministry said.
    The 915 million euro ($1 billion) project will be completed
by 2022, the ministry said. Part of a bigger scheme to connect
the power grids of Cyprus, Israel and Greece, the project has
faced serious delays as parties disagreed over ownership.
    However, Athens has been rushing to start construction,
saying that the link is key to Crete's energy supply.
    The southern island of Crete is now relying on three
oil-fired power plants that will need to cut production or shut
down in the coming years, in line with EU climate-change
targets.
    ADMIE said the first tender will be for the engineering and
installation of two 500 megawatt undersea cables, setting a July
8 deadline for electronic submission of bids.
    A second tender is for construction of two converter
stations and one substation, with a July 22 bid deadline.
($1 = 0.8936 euros)

 (Reporting by Angeliki Koutantou
Editing by David Goodman)
 ((angeliki.koutantou@thomsonreuters.com; +30 210 3376436;
Reuters Messaging: angeliki.koutantou.reuters.com@reuters.net))