What makes the Italy-Tunisia interconnector a historic project?

It is the first physical electricity interconnector directly linking the power grids of continental Europe and North Africa. By crossing the Mediterranean at depths of up to 2,000 meters, it overcomes significant geological and technical barriers to establish a direct channel for renewable energy exchange.

How does this project benefit the European Union's energy security?

The link supports the EU's decarbonization goals by allowing Italy, and by extension the wider European grid, to import cheap solar and wind energy from North Africa. It also enhances grid stability by diversifying energy sources and reducing dependence on natural gas for peak power generation.

Which vessels and technologies will be used for the installation?

Prysmian will deploy its flagship cable-laying vessel, the Leonardo da Vinci, which is uniquely equipped to handle the extreme tension and weight of heavy armored cables at depths of 2,000 meters. The project will utilize advanced high-voltage direct current (HVDC) technology to minimize transmission losses over the 200-kilometer route.

Offshore Energy · June 23, 2026 (Jun 23) · 1 min read

Green light for Prysmian to construct first interconnector between Europe and Africa

Analysis

AI-assisted analysis · reviewed by Yuri Kan

The formal green light for Prysmian to begin constructing the Tyrrhenian Lab submarine cable system marks a historic milestone in Mediterranean energy integration. By establishing the first high-voltage direct current (HVDC) link between Sicily and Tunisia, this project transforms Italy into a strategic energy hub capable of importing North African renewable power. The initiative represents a concrete step toward the European Union's broader ambition of linking the European grid with Africa's vast solar and wind potential.

Key Facts

Italian cable manufacturer Prysmian has received the official notice to proceed (NTP) from Terna, the Italian transmission system operator, to begin construction on the submarine interconnector.
The project, known as the Tyrrhenian Lab or the Italy-Tunisia interconnector, represents a total investment value of approximately EUR 370 million for Prysmian's scope of work.
The bilateral link will feature a 600 MW high-voltage direct current (HVDC) submarine cable system stretching across the Mediterranean Sea.
The marine route spans approximately 200 kilometers, reaching record-breaking underwater depths of up to 2,000 meters in the Strait of Sicily.
Prysmian will utilize its state-of-the-art cable-laying vessels, including the Leonardo da Vinci, to install the specialized bi-pole armored cables.
The land routes will terminate at Partanna in Sicily and Mlaabi on the Tunisian peninsula of Cape Bon.

Background & Context

For over a decade, the European Union and North African nations have discussed the concept of 'Desertec' and similar initiatives to harvest Saharan solar energy for European consumption. However, political instability, financing hurdles, and technical limitations delayed physical progress. The project gained renewed momentum under the EU's 'REPowerEU' strategy, which prioritizes diversifying energy imports and accelerating the green transition following the geopolitical shifts of 2022.

Market Impact

This interconnector fundamentally alters the Mediterranean energy landscape by establishing a physical bridge for bidirectional clean electricity trading between Europe and Africa. For Italy, it solidifies its role as the southern energy gateway of Europe, reducing reliance on fossil-fuel generation in Sicily. For Tunisia, the link provides a lucrative export market for its planned utility-scale solar projects, attracting foreign direct investment into its renewable sector. Furthermore, the project serves as a technical blueprint for deep-water HVDC installations, proving that ultra-deep Mediterranean trenches are no longer a barrier to subsea grid integration.

What to Watch

With the notice to proceed finalized, engineering and manufacturing of the specialized cables will commence immediately at Prysmian's specialized facilities. Marine survey operations along the Strait of Sicily are expected to accelerate ahead of the actual cable-laying phase, with the entire system projected to be fully operational by 2028. Analysts will be watching how this project influences the financing and regulatory approvals of parallel Mediterranean interconnector proposals.

Why This Matters for Cyprus

While this specific link connects Tunisia to Sicily, it serves as a critical proof-of-concept for the Great Sea Interconnector (formerly EuroAsia Interconnector) which aims to link Cyprus, Greece, and Israel. The successful deployment of Prysmian's deep-water vessels at depths of 2,000 meters directly validates the technical feasibility of the Cypriot link, which faces similar extreme bathymetric challenges in the Levantine Basin. Furthermore, it establishes a competitive benchmark for subsea cable manufacturing capacity, which is currently a major bottleneck for East Mediterranean energy projects.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes the Italy-Tunisia interconnector a historic project?: It is the first physical electricity interconnector directly linking the power grids of continental Europe and North Africa. By crossing the Mediterranean at depths of up to 2,000 meters, it overcomes significant geological and technical barriers to establish a direct channel for renewable energy exchange.
How does this project benefit the European Union's energy security?: The link supports the EU's decarbonization goals by allowing Italy, and by extension the wider European grid, to import cheap solar and wind energy from North Africa. It also enhances grid stability by diversifying energy sources and reducing dependence on natural gas for peak power generation.
Which vessels and technologies will be used for the installation?: Prysmian will deploy its flagship cable-laying vessel, the Leonardo da Vinci, which is uniquely equipped to handle the extreme tension and weight of heavy armored cables at depths of 2,000 meters. The project will utilize advanced high-voltage direct current (HVDC) technology to minimize transmission losses over the 200-kilometer route.

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