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Greece, Israel, Cyprus Announce Plan To Link Electricity Grids

A picture shows a power generating facility in the middle of the Gaza Strip during sunset on August 17, 2020 as Gaza's electricity authority announced that more service cuts would be implemented from due to lack of fuel. Israel halted the import of fuel into the Gaza Strip, the latest punitive measure over a wave of airborne fire bombs from the Palestinian territory. (File photo: AFP)
A picture shows a power generating facility in the middle of the Gaza Strip during sunset on August 17, 2020 as Gaza's electricity authority announced that more service cuts would be implemented from due to lack of fuel. Israel halted the import of fuel into the Gaza Strip, the latest punitive measure over a wave of airborne fire bombs from the Palestinian territory. (File photo: AFP)
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Greece, Israel, Cyprus Announce Plan To Link Electricity Grids

A picture shows a power generating facility in the middle of the Gaza Strip during sunset on August 17, 2020 as Gaza's electricity authority announced that more service cuts would be implemented from due to lack of fuel. Israel halted the import of fuel into the Gaza Strip, the latest punitive measure over a wave of airborne fire bombs from the Palestinian territory. (File photo: AFP)
A picture shows a power generating facility in the middle of the Gaza Strip during sunset on August 17, 2020 as Gaza's electricity authority announced that more service cuts would be implemented from due to lack of fuel. Israel halted the import of fuel into the Gaza Strip, the latest punitive measure over a wave of airborne fire bombs from the Palestinian territory. (File photo: AFP)

Cyprus, Israel and Greece on Monday signed an initial agreement on laying the world’s longest undersea power cable linking their electricity grids.

The memorandum of understanding on the 1,200-kilometre (745-mile) EuroAsia Interconnector was signed in Nicosia by Cyprus Energy Minister Natasa Pilides and her Israeli counterpart Yuval Steinitz, while Greece’s Kostas Skrekas joined them by videoconference.

The three ministers, in a joint statement, said they agreed “to promote cooperation to examine the possibility of planning, as well as the potential development and implementation of the project”.

It was a “major step forward” in integrating renewable energy sources, they said, without giving cost estimates.

Steinitz said it would allow Israel “to receive electricity backing from the power grids of the European continent in times of emergency and... significantly increase reliance on solar power generation”.

The project aims to connect the electricity grids of Israel, Cyprus, and Crete in Greece through a 2,000-megawatt undersea cable, AFP reported.

The first phase is expected to be operational by 2025, linking the three countries to energy grids in Asia and Europe, said Pilides.

The European Commission had acknowledged it as a key “Project of Common Interest”, making it eligible for EU financing.

The power cable would boost “energy security” for Europe and end the isolation of Cyprus as the only non-interconnected EU member state.

Israel, Greece and Cyprus have forged a regional alliance based on energy as the three countries also aim to explore and exploit natural gas resources.

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Philippines 'to Assert our Rights' after China Sea Deal

This file photo taken on April 23, 2023 shows the grounded Philippine navy ship BRP Sierra Madre, where marines are stationed to assert Manila’s territorial claims at Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands, in disputed waters of the South China Sea. FILE PHOTO/Agence France-Presse
This file photo taken on April 23, 2023 shows the grounded Philippine navy ship BRP Sierra Madre, where marines are stationed to assert Manila’s territorial claims at Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands, in disputed waters of the South China Sea. FILE PHOTO/Agence France-Presse
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Philippines 'to Assert our Rights' after China Sea Deal

This file photo taken on April 23, 2023 shows the grounded Philippine navy ship BRP Sierra Madre, where marines are stationed to assert Manila’s territorial claims at Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands, in disputed waters of the South China Sea. FILE PHOTO/Agence France-Presse
This file photo taken on April 23, 2023 shows the grounded Philippine navy ship BRP Sierra Madre, where marines are stationed to assert Manila’s territorial claims at Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands, in disputed waters of the South China Sea. FILE PHOTO/Agence France-Presse

Manila insisted Monday it will continue to "assert our rights" over a hotspot South China Sea reef, after reaching a deal with Beijing for resupplying Filipino troops stationed on a grounded warship.
The Philippine foreign ministry also rejected suggestions by China that the "provisional arrangement" announced Sunday required Manila to give Beijing "prior notification" and verification of deliveries to the BRP Sierra Madre on Second Thomas Shoal, Agence France Presse said.
China claims almost the entire South China Sea, including Second Thomas Shoal, which lies about 200 kilometers (120 miles) from the western Philippine island of Palawan and more than 1,000 kilometers from China's nearest major landmass, Hainan island.
"The principles and approaches laid out in the agreement were reached through a series of careful and meticulous consultations between both sides that paved the way for a convergence of ideas without compromising national positions," foreign ministry spokeswoman Teresita Daza said in a statement.
"The (Chinese foreign ministry) spokesperson's statement therefore regarding prior notification and on-site confirmation is inaccurate," Daza said.
Daza said the Philippines "will continue to assert our rights and jurisdiction in our maritime zones", which included Second Thomas Shoal.
The fish-rich shoal has been a focus of violent clashes between Chinese and Philippine ships in recent months as Beijing steps up efforts to push its claims to almost the entire South China Sea.
A Filipino sailor lost a thumb in the latest June 17 confrontation when Chinese coast guard members wielding knives, sticks and an axe foiled a Philippine Navy attempt to resupply its troops.
A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said Monday Beijing had agreed to an arrangement with the Philippines over Filipino resupply missions "based on our principled position" that the shoal was part of Chinese territory.
"Should the Philippines need to send living necessities to the personnel living on the warship, China is willing to allow it in a humanitarian spirit if the Philippines informs China in advance and after on-site verification is conducted," the spokesperson said.
But it would "absolutely not accept" the delivery of large amounts of construction materials to the ship and attempts to "build fixed facilities or permanent outpost".
The resupply arrangement followed talks with Beijing this month when the countries agreed to "de-escalate tensions" and increase the number of communication channels to resolve maritime disagreements between them.
A handful of Filipino troops are stationed on the decrepit BRP Sierra Madre that was deliberately grounded on Second Thomas Shoal in 1999 to assert Manila's claims to the area.
They require frequent resupplies for food, water and other necessities as well as transport for personnel rotations.