REPOWERING THE MEDITERRANEAN: REFLECTIONS ON GRID INFRASTRUCTURE DIPLOMACY

The document analyzes the Mediterranean's electricity grid infrastructure, identifying four main interconnection zones and various proposed projects like the EuroAsia and EuroAfrica Interconnectors. It highlights how geopolitical tensions, particularly in the Eastern Mediterranean, hinder integration while suggesting that the energy transition and EU demand for renewables could drive cooperation. The author proposes guidelines for enhancing interconnectivity, emphasizing the need for political alignment and regulatory cooperation.

• The Mediterranean electricity landscape is divided into four primary grid interconnection zones: the Continental Europe Synchronous Area, the Maghreb Electricity Synchronous Zone (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya), the Middle East area, and Türkiye's own synchronous area.
• Current grid infrastructure in the region is underutilized for trade, with interconnections primarily serving to ensure secure power supply rather than supporting a developed regional market. For instance, Tunisia imported only 6% of its electricity from Algeria in 2021.
• Major interconnector projects in the Eastern Mediterranean, including the EuroAsia and EuroAfrica Interconnectors, are hindered by disputes over maritime zones and exclusive economic zones (EEZs) involving Greece, Cyprus, and Türkiye.
• The GREGY cable project, designed to transport up to 3000 MW of green energy from Egypt to Crete, carries geopolitical weight as it may consolidate the sovereign rights of Greece and Egypt regarding their maritime boundary agreement.
• Trilateral cooperation between Egypt, Jordan, and Iraq is increasing, evidenced by negotiations to double electricity exchange between Jordan and Egypt to 1,000 MW and plans to link Egypt's grid to Iraq via Jordan.
• The European Union's need for renewable energy has driven grid expansion in North Africa, including the TUNITA project (Italy-Tunisia), which received over €300 million from the Connecting Europe Facility.
• Morocco is actively pursuing energy integration through a proposed 1000 MW interconnection with Portugal and a strategic partnership with Spain for a third transmission line with a capacity of 700 MW.
• Successful regional grid integration requires political alignment among key actors—specifically Egypt, Israel, and Türkiye—and the development of electricity-focused foreign policies to overcome enduring political conflicts.

APA

SULUN, E. E. (2023). REPOWERING THE MEDITERRANEAN: REFLECTIONS ON GRID INFRASTRUCTURE DIPLOMACY. Peace Research Institute Oslo. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/3ddba1d7-3eec-467c-8b17-dade788c59b2/6OP 23 REPOWERING THE MEDITERRANEAN.pdf?inline=true

Chicago

SULUN, EMINE EMINEL. REPOWERING THE MEDITERRANEAN: REFLECTIONS ON GRID INFRASTRUCTURE DIPLOMACY. Peace Research Institute Oslo, 2023. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/3ddba1d7-3eec-467c-8b17-dade788c59b2/6OP 23 REPOWERING THE MEDITERRANEAN.pdf?inline=true.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=SULUN |first1=EMINE EMINEL |title=REPOWERING THE MEDITERRANEAN: REFLECTIONS ON GRID INFRASTRUCTURE DIPLOMACY |publisher=Peace Research Institute Oslo |date=2023 |url=https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/3ddba1d7-3eec-467c-8b17-dade788c59b2/6OP 23 REPOWERING THE MEDITERRANEAN.pdf?inline=true |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{sulun2023repowering, author = {SULUN, EMINE EMINEL}, title = {{REPOWERING THE MEDITERRANEAN: REFLECTIONS ON GRID INFRASTRUCTURE DIPLOMACY}}, institution = {Peace Research Institute Oslo}, year = {2023}, url = {https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/3ddba1d7-3eec-467c-8b17-dade788c59b2/6OP 23 REPOWERING THE MEDITERRANEAN.pdf?inline=true}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }