One of the world's largest single cable laying operations is being carried out by ADMIE's subsidiary Ariadni Interconnection, which is installing a 500 kV direct current high voltage submarine cable with a total length of 335 km in the framework of the Crete-Atica electrical interconnection.
As announced in a relevant announcement, the cable weighing 13,500 tons is being laid at a maximum depth of 1,200 meters between Korakia in Heraklion (Crete) and Pachi in Megara (Attica) by the state-of-the-art cable laying vessel «Leonardo da Vinci» of the contractor Prysmian Powerlink. This is an operation of extremely complex technical requirements that successfully started in early December and is estimated to last approximately 9 weeks.
Following the operation of the first electrical interconnection of Crete with mainland Greece, via the Peloponnese in July 2021, ADMIE is proceeding at an intensive pace and according to schedule with the second interconnection of the island with Attica, the largest electricity transmission project currently being implemented in the country with a budget of 1 billion euros and a completion date of 2024.
Regarding the subsea part of the project, the first 170 km of the electricity cable from Attica to Milos and the entire 670 km of fibre optic cables have already been laid.
On the Attica side, the installation of the underground cable sections is in full swing, while the foundations of the basic buildings of the Conversion Stations that will be constructed at both ends of the interconnection, namely Damasta of Heraklion and Aspropyrgos of Attica, have started.
The President and CEO of ADMIE Manos Manousakis said, «ADMIE and its subsidiary Ariadni Interconnection are taking another important step towards the completion of the “big” interconnection between Crete and Attica, implementing one of the most demanding submarine cable laying operations worldwide. The second electrical interconnection between Crete and the mainland will safeguard the island's electricity supply, unlock its renewable potential and upgrade its position on the energy map of Greece and the Eastern Mediterranean».
