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UAE joins $1bn subsea power connectivity initiative

UAE president Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni, Albanian prime minister Edi Rama and UAE minister of industry Dr Sultan Al Jaber at the signing Wam
UAE president Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni, Albanian prime minister Edi Rama and UAE minister of industry Dr Sultan Al Jaber at the signing

The UAE has partnered with Italy and Albania to build a €1 billion ($1 billion) subsea connection to import renewable energy across the Mediterranean region.

“We strongly believe in this project involving our three governments, private sector and grid operators,” Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni told the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi.

The initiative will improve the existing 430km power interconnections along the Adriatic seabed, linking Italy to Montenegro and other Balkan regions, Reuters reported, citing Meloni.

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama added that the tripartite partnership aims to produce renewable energy in Albania, which will be exported to Italy through subsea cables.

The partnership will involve Italian grid operator Terna and UAE’s National Energy Company (Taqa).

Sultan Al Jaber, UAE minister of industry and advanced technology, said the Emirates is connecting nations in a “far-sighted” collaboration through its expertise in renewable energy.

The partnership includes the deployment of gigawatt-scale renewable energy projects in Albania, focusing on solar PV, wind, and hybrid solutions with potential battery storage.

In February 2024, e& (formerly Etisalat) said the UAE would anchor the 2Africa subsea cable, the world’s largest. It will deliver internet capacity across substantial parts of Africa and the Middle East.