Abu Dhabi: Italy, Albania, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have signed a groundbreaking agreement worth at least €1 billion ($1 billion) to construct a subsea interconnection to facilitate renewable energy imports across the Adriatic Sea.
The project, announced at the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi, aims to bolster existing energy networks, making them “more efficient and competitive”, according to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The interconnection will span 430 kilometers along the Adriatic seabed, linking Italy with Montenegro and other Balkan regions.
Advancing Clean Energy Collaboration
“This partnership marks a significant step towards enhancing energy security, promoting sustainable development, and accelerating the transition to clean energy in the Mediterranean region,” stated a joint release by the three countries.
The initiative also complements Italy’s ongoing efforts to expand its electricity infrastructure, including a separate project to connect Italy with Tunisia, increasing power flow across the Mediterranean.
Strategic Energy Alliance
Italian grid operator Terna, UAE’s National Energy Company (Taqa), and Albania are key stakeholders in this initiative. Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama revealed that the interconnection will link the port of Vlore in Albania with Italy’s southern Puglia region, the narrowest point between the two nations. The project is expected to become operational within three years.
Albania plans to leverage the opportunity to sell domestically produced renewable energy as it works to diversify its energy mix. The country has already increased its renewable capacity by approximately 500 megawatts in the past two years, according to Deputy Prime Minister and Energy Minister Belinda Balluku.
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“By leveraging the UAE’s world-class expertise in renewable energy, Albania’s abundant natural resources, and Italy’s sophisticated energy market, we are connecting nations in far-sighted collaboration,” said Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology.
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This agreement highlights a shared commitment to fostering clean energy advancements and enhancing regional energy security.
