The Elmed project, poised to be the first direct current (DC) connection between Europe and North Africa, has secured a significant funding boost. The European Investment Bank (EIB) has contributed pound 45 million to this ambitious endeavor.
According to Africa News Agency, the total cost of the Elmed project amounts to pound 921 million. It involves the implementation of a high-voltage direct current (HVDC) link that will interconnect Tunisia and Italy across the Strait of Sicily, including connections to their respective national grids. The power line, spanning 220 kilometers with 200 kilometers of undersea cable, will connect the electrical substations at Partanna in Sicily and Mlaabi in Tunisia. It is designed to have a capacity of 600 MW, a DC voltage of 500 kV, and will reach a maximum depth of approximately 800 meters.
The project is a collaborative effort between Italy’s transmission system operator (TSO) Terna and STEG, the Tunisian electricity and gas company. Construction is expected to commence this year, with completion anticipated in 2028.