Countries Plan to Install Power Line Under Black Sea

Romania, Hungary, Georgia, and Azerbaijan have embarked on an ambitious project to lay a power cable beneath the Black Sea with the intention of bringing more renewable energy from the eastern Caucasus to the European Union. The initiative, approved by the four nations' leaders in 2022, has gained urgency following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which exposed the EU's dependence on Russian energy. This 27-nation bloc is now accelerating efforts to diversify its energy sources.

The proposed power line will link Azerbaijan, noted for its wind energy potential, with EU members Romania and Hungary via Georgia. Officials from the four countries launched the joint venture at a meeting in Bucharest, Romania's capital, highlighting the project's role in enhancing energy security and reducing electricity costs for consumers. As Romanian Energy Minister Sebastian Burduja put it, "On the eastern flank essentially we are paying a very high price recently—and that's because there is not enough diversification."

Bulgaria's deputy energy minister participated in the meeting, discussing the prospect of Bulgaria joining the project. The next meeting on this initiative will take place during a UN climate change conference later this year in Azerbaijan. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)