The heads of state and government of Romania, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Hungary have signed an agreement for the construction of a submarine electricity cable under the Black Sea. The ceremony at the presidential palace in Bucharest on Saturday was also attended by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.
The construction of the cable will start in September next year, but will not be operational until 2029 at the earliest. According to a statement by the Romanian Presidency, the agreement also foresees increased cooperation in new energy technologies, hydrogen production and energy transit infrastructure.
The flow from the South Caucasus will also further reduce the continent’s dependence on Russian energy resources. “The two shores of the Black Sea have never been so close,” von der Leyen wrote on Twitter.
«The longest underwater electrical cable»
Previously, President Ilham Aliyev (Azerbaijan) and Prime Ministers Nicolae Ciuca (Romania), Irakli Garibashvili (Georgia) and Viktor Orban (Hungary) had signed the document. She is proud that the agreement “places such a strong emphasis on renewable energy,” von der Leyen added.
“We are preparing to build the longest underwater electrical cable,” said Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev hailed the agreement as “our contribution to European energy security” and “a new bridge between the EU and Azerbaijan”.
Georgia and Azerbaijan are located in the Caucasus Mountains. Both countries have significant hydropower potential. Georgia and Romania are on the Black Sea, while Hungary borders Romania.
(dsc/sda/dpa/afp)
Soource :Watson
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
