Prysmian Receives Green Light to Build the First Submarine Electrical Interconnection Between Europe and Africa

The Italian company Prysmian has received authorization to begin construction of the Elmed project, the first submarine electrical interconnection between Europe and Africa.

The new link will connect the electrical substation in Partanna, Sicily (Italy), with that of Mlaabi, in the Tunisian peninsula of Cap Bon. The infrastructure will have a total length of 220 kilometers, of which about 200 kilometers will be submarine cable installed on the seabed.

The connection will have a capacity of 600 MW and will reach a maximum depth of about 800 meters in the Strait of Sicily. Additionally, it will allow electricity to be transported in both directions between Italy and Tunisia.

To carry out this work, with an investment amounting to 460 million euros, Prysmian will deploy the cable-laying vessel "Monna Lisa" (IMO 9995911), registered in Italy.

According to Prysmian, this interconnection will facilitate the integration of renewable energy produced in Tunisia into the electrical grids of Italy and Europe, helping to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. At the same time, it will provide Tunisia with a direct and stable connection to the European electrical grid, promoting its economic development.

Photo: Prysmian